Healthcare professionals, substance use and adverse childhood experiences

Background Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) are a predictor to medical and mental health conditions, including substance use disorders. The ACE study, conducted by Kaiser Permanente and Center for Disease Control and Prevention, links childhood trauma to health and social consequences. [1,2] Peer Assistance Services, Inc., a Colorado nonprofit organization, implements Peer Health Assistance Programs (PHAP), for licensed healthcare professionals who have substance use and/or mental health disorders affecting public safety. The objective is to better understand the characteristics of clients living with substance use and/or mental health conditions, and to improve outcomes, PHAP identified characteristics of clients with an ACE score of 4 or higher. The likelihood of clients underreporting ACE scores was also studied.