Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Substance Misuse among Justice-Involved Children

Abstract

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUD). However, this relationship has yet to be tested among justice-involved children (JIC), and it is unclear if racial/ethnic differences exist. This study aimed to determine: (1) whether ACEs are associated with increased risk of SU and SUD among JIC; and (2) if the effects of ACEs on SU and SUD are moderated by race/ethnicity. Methods: Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to examine a statewide dataset of 79,960 JIC from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Marginal odds were estimated to examine how race moderates the relationship between ACEs and SU and SUD. Results: Results showed higher ACEs scores were linked to SU and SUD. Black JIC were 2.46 times more likely, and Latinx JIC were 1.40 times more likely to report SU than white JIC. Specifically, Black and Latinx JIC with a higher average ACEs score were more likely to report SU but less likely to have ever been diagnosed with a SUD when compared to white JIC with equivalent ACEs. Conclusions: Study results highlight the need to develop trauma-informed and culturally appropriate interventions for SU and SUD among JIC.

Keywords:

• Juvenile justice
• substance use
• substance use disorder
• adverse childhood experiences
• race

Acknowledgments

The data in this study were developed by and obtained from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FLDJJ) in Tallahassee, Florida. Our team would like to especially acknowledge the dedicated professionals at FLDJJ for their work in managing the data and collaborating with investigators.

Data availability and sharing

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to participant confidentiality considerations. Aggregate data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Ethics approval

All procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional review boards and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study, formal consent was not required. Approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board at the University of Florida.

Additional information

Funding

The research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health under award numbers 1K01DA052679 (Dr. Micah E. Johnson, PI), R25DA050735 (Dr. Micah E. Johnson, PI), R25DA035163 (Dr. Micah E. Johnson, USF Site PI), U01DA051039 (Dr. Micah E. Johnson, USF Site PI), and T32DA035167 (Dr. Linda B. Cottler, PI). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.