ACE Quiz Prior to your 18th birthday:

1. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Swear at you, insult you, put
you down, or humiliate you? or Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically
hurt?
If Yes, enter 1 __

2. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Push, grab, slap, or throw
something at you? or Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?
If Yes, enter 1 __

3. Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever… Touch or fondle you or have you
touch their body in a sexual way? or Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse
with you?
If Yes, enter 1 __

4. Did you often or very often feel that … No one in your family loved you or thought you were
important or special? or Your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or
support each other?
If Yes, enter 1 __

5. Did you often or very often feel that … You didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes,
and had no one to protect you? or Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or
take you to the doctor if you needed it?
If Yes, enter 1 __

6. Were your parents ever separated or divorced?

If Yes, enter 1 __

7. Was your mother or stepmother:

Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her? or Sometimes,
often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard? or Ever repeatedly
hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?
If Yes, enter 1 __

8. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or who used street drugs?
If Yes, enter 1 __

9. Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt
suicide? If Yes, enter 1 __

10. Did a household member go to prison?

If Yes, enter 1 __

Now add up your “Yes” answers: _ This is your ACE Score

(https://acestoohigh.com/got-your-ace-score/)
FYI:

 More than 8.3 million children, or 11 percent of all children in the United States, live in homes
where at least one parent or caretaker has a substance use disorder involving alcohol and other
drugs. Parental substance abuse places the family at an increased risk of child abuse, neglect,
and trauma. Most of these children are not identified by child-serving agencies. (CDC)

According to the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress (2014)

 Children of alcoholics or substance abusers may struggle with the balance between loving their
parents and worrying about their well-being, while also feeling angry or hurt that their parents
do not love them enough to stop using.
 Some children blame themselves for their parent’s substance abuse, and may try to control their
situation through trying harder to receive A’s in school, working harder to keep the home clean
and organized, get along with siblings, or may withdraw in order to not create disturbances that
could cause their parent to abuse a substance.
 Children of alcoholics or substance abusers may take on developmentally inappropriate
responsibility within the household or with their siblings or parents, feeling that the
responsibility lies on them.

According to Akin, Brook, Lloyd (2015), parental substance abuse

 Heightens the risk for both physical and emotional safety of the child.
 Is an detriment to a child’s overall development and well-being
 Increases a child’s chances of witnessing violence and experiencing trauma
 Increases a child’s chances of exhibiting behavioral health problems
Summary of State Statutes (Arkansas page 10)

https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/define.pdf#page=5&view=Summaries of State laws

2016 Health of Women and Children repot: Adverse Childhood Experiences

https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/2016-health-of-women-and-children-
report/measure/ACEs/state/AR

CDC-Kaiser ACE Study Info

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/about.html

Nadine Burk Harris on Adverse Childhood Experiences

https://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_affects_health_across_a_life
time