A special publication of the Tulsa World | July 2019
SPECIAL REPORT
BREAKING THE CYCLE Oklahoma leads the nation in childhood trauma. How are the scars we leave on our children affecting our state, and what can we do about it? In an eight-part series, The Tulsa World examines the science behind Adverse Childhood Experiences, takes a look at some of those suffering from the long-term effects of ACEs and look at ways to address the problem. Find stories from all eight parts in this special publication, and find the entire series at bit.ly/ACESproject. Mike Simons/Tulsa World file
Adverse effects of Oklahoma ACE scores
No. 1
in female incarceration rates and
No. 2 in male incarceration
rates, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
T
Oklahoma ranks high for several social ills that have been linked to high Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scores. A few examples:
No. 1
in the nation in incarceration rates when other factors such as the juvenile and jail populations are included, according to a 2018 study.*
No. 1 No. 5 in cancer deaths per capita,
in heart-disease mortality and
according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
No. 9
per capita in substantiated child abuse cases, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In Tulsa County, confirmed child abuse cases have more than doubled since 2010. In 2018, the number of confirmed child abuse cases statewide rose to levels not seen since 1999.
No. 5 in the nation in teen
smoking, according to CDC data. An estimated 12.5% of teens in Oklahoma smoke.
*by the nonprofit organization Prison Policy Initiative
By CURTIS KILLMAN • Tulsa World
he science is well established and should come as no surprise: children who suffer rough childhoods have a greater likelihood of being adversely affected later in life. Studies have shown that children who incur adverse experiences are more likely to develop mental health issues, suffer chronic health problems and/or take part in risky behaviors such as smoking or drug abuse. Oklahoma children are not immune from this phenomena. In fact we are No. 1, according to various nationwide surveys.
A 2017 National Survey of Children’s Health conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau found that 30.4% of Oklahoma children had incurred two or more adverse experiences, ranking it No. 1 among other states. Earlier surveys have found Oklahoma children ranked No. 1 in the percentage of children who had suffered four or more adverse experiences. So what’s the big deal? Well, studies have found that adults exposed to four or more adverse experiences in childhood were: • 7.4 times more likely than someone with no adverse childhood experiences to suffer from alcoholism. • 4.7 times more likely than someone with no adverse childhood experiences to abuse drugs
• 4.6 times more likely than someone with no adverse childhood experiences to suffer from depression. • 12 times more likely to attempt suicide. • 3 times more likely to have had 50 or more sexual intercourse partners • Twice as likely to smoke, be in poor health, suffer a stroke or have heart disease, or not graduate high school Having an incarcerated parent is an example of an adverse childhood experience. And with Oklahoma ranking No. 1 in female incarceration rate and No. 2 in male incarceration rate, it should be again no surprise that there are estimates that 26,000
According to a national survey, nearly 1 out of every 3 Oklahoma children have incurred two or more adverse childhood experiences. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
children have a parent in Oklahoma Department of Corrections custody, according to a 2017 report from the Oklahoma Children of Incarcerated Parents Advisory Committee. For those 26,000 children, they are 70% more likely than other children to end up incarcerated themselves, according to the committee. For children with incarcerated parents, 45.4% of them experienced
mental health problems after their mother was sent to prison, according to research by retired University of Oklahoma sociology professor Susan Sharp. Overall, a 2016-17 government study ranked Oklahoma 15th among states for adults who had reported suffering from serious mental illness in the past year, or about 5% of the state population.
PRODUCING LOCAL JOURNALISM THAT MATTERS Oklahoma leads the nation in childhood trauma.
We spent a year investigating this serious issue and asking what can be done to fix it.
The Tulsa World believes local journalism can make a difference in our community, and we strive every day to keep you informed and involved with what’s happening around you. To that end, we will continue to devote our resources to breaking news and to deeper, longer pieces like this project to get you the best information we can online and in print. You can support this kind of local journalism in Tulsa by subscribing to the Tulsa World at tulsaworld.com/subscribe. Help us make a difference in our community, and get unlimited access to the news you need to know.