April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. While the SUDDs Coalition’s primary focus is substance use prevention, there are many factors that impact substance misuse and abuse. When children are exposed to trauma, their risk of using substances and addiction, as well as physical and socioeconomic challenges increases greatly. ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences can include physical abuse and neglect, emotional abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, and household dysfunction. Any of these situations can serve as a trigger for substance misuse or abuse. The National Institute for Health reports that 38% of high school seniors admitted to using illicit substances in 2019. In that same year, 11.7% reported daily nicotine use and over half stated they used alcohol in the prior year. Child abuse can be prevented, but it takes families and communities working together. (Counseling Today)
Everyone can help support families to prevent child abuse and neglect. Help raise child abuse awareness in your community by using the child abuse and neglect prevention month graphics, social media posts, and sample proclamations found at: www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/preventionmonth. You can also raise awareness by putting pinwheels in the yard of your home or business. Pinwheels represent childlike playfulness and whimsy and a world where children are happy and healthy.
