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Intersection of adverse childhood experiences, suicide and overdose prevention
  1. Anna E Austin1,
  2. Lara DePadilla2,
  3. Phyllis Niolon3,
  4. Deborah Stone4,
  5. Sarah Bacon5
  1. 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  2. 2 Ctr Dis Control, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  3. 3 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  4. 4 CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  5. 5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Anna E Austin; une1{at}cdc.gov

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), suicide and overdose are linked across the life course and across generations and share common individual-, interpersonal-, community- and societal-level risk factors. The purpose of this review is to summarise the shared aetiology of these public health issues, synthesise evidence regarding potential community- and societal-level prevention strategies and discuss future research and practice directions.

Growing evidence shows the potential for community- and societal-level programmes and policies, including higher minimum wage; expanded Medicaid eligibility; increased earned income tax credits, child tax credits and temporary assistance for needy families benefits; Paid Family Leave; greater availability of affordable housing and rental assistance; and increased participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), to contribute to ACEs, suicide and overdose prevention. Considerations for future prevention efforts include (1) expanding the evidence base through rigorous research and evaluation; (2) assessing the implications of prevention strategies for equity; (3) incorporating a relational health perspective; (4) enhancing community capacity to implement, scale and sustain evidenced-informed prevention strategies; and (5) acknowledging that community- and societal-level prevention strategies are longer-term strategies.

  • Child abuse
  • Poisoning
  • Suicide/Self?Harm

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Footnotes

  • X @AnnaEAustin

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Disclaimer The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.