My ACE Test

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) criteria offer a measurable predictive quality to future violence, victimization, perpetration, lifelong health, overall wellbeing and opportunity. ACE has been linked to: risky health behavior, chronic health conditions, low life potential and early death. The ACE test is designed to assess maladaptive risk behaviors that emerge from negative early life experiences, prior to the eighteenth birthday. I wonder how the ACE test can be used to mitigate my marriage? My wife administered the exam:

Question 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?

Answer: Yes

Question 2: Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? Or even hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?

Answer: Yes

Question 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?

Answer: No

Question 4: Did you often or very often feel that no one in our 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?

Answer: Yes

Question 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?

Answer: Yes

Question 6: Were you parents ever separated or divorced?

Answer: No

Question 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 even repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?

Answer: No

Question 8: Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or who used street drugs?

Answer: Yes

Question 9: Was household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?

Answer: Yes

Question 10: Did a household member go to prison?

Answer: No

MY SCORE: 6

I scored six on the ACE test, and a score of six indicates I am at an increased risk for alcoholism, chronic depression, having serious work problems, serious financial problems, increase chance of heart disease and elevated likelihood of stroke. Almost 12.5% of Americans have a score equal to or higher than mine, and die nearly twenty years earlier than those with no ACE score. At my age I stand a very real chance of dying in prison before I’m released. Incarceration could be a death sentence for me according to my ACE score! In every ACE category I scored an increased risk - not exactly the accolades I wanted.

My wife was quiet after she graded my test. Last week was a rough week in my marriage mitigation effort, and I’m beginning to question the wisdom of applying the criminal mitigation process to the repair of my broken marriage. We both came away angry last week after working through the question ‘What is a fit punishment,’ but what other choice is there? I’ve never liked the idea of hiding my head in the sand and pretending my problems will magically go away. I prefer taking action especially in an adverse situation. Much of what I’ve experienced in the criminal justice system is unsavory and is contrary to the public’s perception about the pursuit of justice.

According to Pew Research, only two (2%) percent of federal criminal defendants go to trial, and most who do are found guilty. If a person exercises their Constitutional Right to defend themselves then the criminal justice system becomes even more onerous. A “trial penalty” will almost certainly be imposed, the cost of defense will bankrupt most, and the key players are largely unaccountable and untouchable. It is not a recipe for success for the average defendant.

Needless to say, I can either curl up in the fetal position to await my fate, or take massive action to mitigate my sentence. I couldn’t live with myself if I don’t do everything in my power to persuade the judge to consider mercy, but the ACE test is frightening. ACE can affect anyone across the economic spectrum, and even people living in a safe and healthy community like me. A single incident can be systemically damaging. I asked my wife, “Is our marriage resilient enough to survive a husband who scored six on the ACE test?”

She answered, “We’ve been through worse, and I think we should keep mitigating our marriage.” I knew she was right, but I couldn’t stop thinking about my ACE score. It is really bad news!

	ACE SCORE OF 0	ACE SCORE OF 4	INCREASED RISK
Likelihood of becoming an alcoholic	2.5%	11%	Four-fold increase
Suffering from chronic depression	15% women 10% men	42% women 30% men	tripled
Having a serious problem working	5%	15%	tripled
Having serious financial problems	10%	20%	doubled
Chance of heart disease	3.7%	5.6%	doubled
Having a stroke	2.6%	4.1%	doubled

Source: https://www.stopabusecampaign.org