Does Childhood Adversity Lead to Drug Addiction in Adulthood? A Study of Serial Mediators Based on Resilience and Depression

Abstract

Drug addiction is a common problem worldwide. Research has shown adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to be an important factor related to drug addiction. However, there are few studies on how ACEs lead to drug addiction and the role of resilience and depression in this process. Thus, the main purposes of the study were to determine the proportion of those with adverse childhood experiences who take drugs in adulthood and how resilience and depression affect this relationship. The results showed that (1) greater severity of ACEs made individuals more likely to take drugs; (2) ACEs were positively correlated with depression, and resilience was negatively correlated with ACEs and depression; and (3) ACEs not only affected drug addiction through resilience or depression alone but also through the combined action of resilience and depression, indicating that depression led to drug addiction while resilience weakened the effect of ACEs on depression and drug addiction. Furthermore, in the serial mediation model, abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction were significant predictors of drug addiction. Our results are encouraging in that they provide guidance in understanding the complex relationships among ACEs, resilience, depression, and drug addiction.

Pathway of effects of adverse childhood experiences on the poly-drug use pattern among adults using drugs: A structural equation modeling

“…ACEs, directly contributed to a risky effect on poly-drug uses, and it is consistent with some studies ( 26 ). It also demonstrated that exposure to ACEs was significantly associated with drug addiction and poly-drug use ( 26 ) with consistent cumulative effects accompanied by categories of substance including short and long effects on initiated drug use and the development of drug use. However, those who have suffered from severe ACEs might not address negative consequences until adulthood, possibly choosing to use drugs to reduce the stress or trauma ( 26 , 27 ).…”

“…It also demonstrated that exposure to ACEs was significantly associated with drug addiction and poly-drug use ( 26 ) with consistent cumulative effects accompanied by categories of substance including short and long effects on initiated drug use and the development of drug use. However, those who have suffered from severe ACEs might not address negative consequences until adulthood, possibly choosing to use drugs to reduce the stress or trauma ( 26 , 27 ). In other words, as exposure to ACEs increased, the possibility of non-addiction decreased significantly, which may explain why some people use drugs to alleviate the negative effects of childhood trauma to some extent.…”

‘It's so beneficial to be able to stop the cycle’: Perceptions of intergenerational transmission of violence and parenting practices among pregnant women and their abusive partners

“…Both mothers and fathers reflected on whether such negative experiences in childhood also represented a risk factor for the development of mental disorders or substance use problems. This is in line with the research evidence (e.g., Dube et al, 2003;He et al, 2022;Merrick et al, 2017) which shows that the higher the number of traumatic events experienced in childhood, the higher the probability of experiencing mental health problems and substance use problems in adulthood.…”

“I had Some Memories that Popped up Again From My Childhood:” Perspectives of Incarcerated Women on the Initiation and Continuation of Substance Use

“…Given that a majority of these women attributed their initial engagement in substance use to an ACE, it is unsurprising that use continued into adulthood. While ACEs affect physical and mental health, we know such experiences also increase the risk for substance use later in adulthood (He et al, 2022). ACEs manifest into myriad mental health issues and result in poor coping skills which leads to ongoing struggles with substance use.…”