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The Alternative Community Events (ACE) Framework is a versatile strategy that can be applied to any community issue or priority, whether it’s substance misuse prevention, mental health promotion, anti-stigma campaigns, positive youth development, or fostering increased caring and connectivity. By offering engaging, enjoyable activities, the ACE Framework promotes positive behaviors and community bonding, while providing alternatives to environments where harmful behaviors might otherwise occur. This approach helps shift social norms and create supportive spaces that drive positive outcomes across a wide range of community concerns. ACE is grounded in research that demonstrates the benefits of providing structured, enjoyable activities, which can reduce the likelihood of substance use among participants. By promoting positive social interactions and providing a sense of belonging, ACE helps increase protective factors and promote resilience.
The Origins of ACE
The concept of providing alternative activities to prevent substance abuse emerged in the literature and among prevention professionals in the early 1970s, though it lacks a strong conceptual prevention origin (Wald & Abrams, 1972). This approach typically involved establishing youth centers that offered unique or specific activities for young people. The underlying assumption was that engaging young people in appealing real-life experiences could deter them from substance use. Building on this, Horan (1973) introduced the concept of “competing reinforcement hierarchies” in the context of substance abuse prevention activities. This idea suggests that young people are influenced by various reinforcements or rewards that compete for their attention and behavior. In simpler terms, different activities or experiences can either encourage or discourage substance use, depending on how appealing they are compared to each other. Horan emphasized that these reinforcement hierarchies are complex and must be understood within specific contexts and interpersonal dynamics. For example, the appeal of a youth center’s activities might vary based on individual preferences, social influences, and the specific environment. This complexity means that prevention strategies need to be tailored to the unique circumstances of each community and individual. In summary, Horan’s findings highlight the importance of creating engaging and appealing alternatives to substance use that can effectively compete with the allure of drugs, taking into account the diverse factors that influence young people’s choices.
Sensation-seeking has been long considered a risk factor for substance use. The Seattle Social Development Group (SDRG) identified sensation-seeking under the broader “Constitutional Factors” category (Arthur, Hawkins, Pollard, et al., 2002). This concept was later refined in the development of aggregated CTC indicator indices for adolescent risk and protection, where Feinberg, Ridenour, and Greenberg (2007) def