The Link Between Domestic Violence and Alcohol

 

Text Box: The relationship between alcohol abuse and domestic abuse is a difficult subject to approach. There is not a direct link between the two, but there is a risk factor. Alcohol abuse increases the risk of violence used against a partner in relationships. The incidence of substance abuse by batterers seen in criminal justice, mental health, or social service settings is well above 50%, greater than the incidence of substance abuse by batterers in the general population.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possible Reasons Why Alcohol Abusers Commit Partner Abuse

           

                                                                                   

 

                                                                                                             

 

      

Ø     An excuse-Alcohol use can be seen as "time-out" from responsibility.  Batterers sometimes use it as a reason for being controlling and violent.

 

Ø     A cognitive disrupter-Alcohol can reduce the user's ability to understand, use, and process information.  This can increase the risk of violence.  Batterers can misinterpret their partner's actions.

 

Ø     A power motive-Alcohol abuse and domestic violence may share common motives for a person to achieve personal power and control.

 

Ø     Situational-Violence may happen during the process of getting and using alcohol.

 

Ø     A chemical agent-Alcohol abuse may increase the risk for domestic abuse through chemical actions on brain mechanisms linked to aggression.  Alcohol has been found to increase the aggressive responses of people with low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin.

 

Ø     Partial to certain characteristics-Substance abuse may increase the risk for domestic abuse only for those abusers with certain characteristics.  These include:  socioeconomic hardship (unemployment and poor wages combined with low levels of relationship satisfaction or high levels of hostility).

 

Ø     Effective across generations-Alcohol abuse and domestic abuse are learned through observation and practice.  They are related over time.  Parental alcohol abuse and parental domestic abuse may impact the development of children.  The child's chances of growing up to be an abuser, a victim of abuse or an alcohol abuser greatly increases.

 

How Domestic Abuse May Increase Women's risk for Alcohol Abuse

 

Ø     Coerced or manipulated use by partner-Many victim's initial or escalated use of alcohol is coerced or manipulated by their abusive partners.  The abuser may say, "It's fun to drink and party," or threats may be used.

 

Ø     Medication for emotional and physical pain-Abused partners may start to drink alcohol in response to the abuse they receive, in order to numb the emotional and/or physical pain. “I just need a couple of drinks to forget this nightmare that I’m in.”

 

Ø     Access to prescription drugs-Research suggests about 70% of prescriptions for tranquilizers, sedatives, stimulants, and hypnotics are written for women, resulting in women being twice as likely as men to become addicted to prescription drugs in combination with alcohol.  “I’m having trouble sleeping doctor, can you give me something so I can get a decent night’s rest?”

 

Ø     Mental abuse by the abuser-The woman's alcohol addiction can be used as another weapon for her abuser to control her.  "If you weren't such an alcoholic, I wouldn't have to be this way."

 

Ø     Enormous gap in emergency services-Many domestic violence shelters will not admit women under the influence of alcohol and other substances.  Some shelter policies won't allow chemical dependent women to stay unless they have been clean for 30-90 days.

 

Ø     Lack of available child care-Victims can be reluctant to enter chemical dependency detox or treatment unless they have a safe and secure environment for their children to be in.  “I can’t go to treatment because if I do, he/she might take away my kids!”

 

Ø     Abuse of alcohol can compromise cognitive functioning-A victim under the influence of alcohol may be less able to identify cues or indicators that can escalate to domestic abuse.  She may not be able to defend herself against physical assault or make judgments about medical attention.  “I didn’t know he was getting mean with me.  I just thought it was the beer.”