The Effect of Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on Substance Use During Pregnancy

It is known that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) put people at risk of poor health choices and outcomes later in life. Pregnant people who have experienced ACEs—especially those with ≥ 4 events —are at risk for prenatal substance use, exposing their infants in utero. The high prevalence of people in this study with ≥ 4 ACEs whose infants tested positive for substance exposure provides further evidence of the association between ACEs and substance use in pregnancy. Prenatal screening for childhood adversity may identify people at risk and provide opportunities for intervention, thus reducing the transgenerational impact of ACEs.