Substance Abuse And Domestic Violence - 3742 Words

Introduction and Background Many people who seek domestic violence services, and even more who do not seek services, are dealing with substance abuse issues as well as abuse. The reasons that domestic violence victims begin their substance abuse vary, but can include: use as a coping mechanism in order to survive the abusive situation, a way to deal with abuse of the past, coercion and by an abusive partner, chemical dependency, cultural oppression or a new sense of freedom (Bland Edmund, 2005). Whatever the reason for substance abuse, it can lead to isolation and shame. These feelings are then often intensified and magnified when domestic violence is occurring at the same time. There is a large societal stigma surrounding both†¦show more content†¦The most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is when the victim tries to leave, and the average person returns to their abuser seven times before leaving for good. According to the 2011 Wisconsin Domestic Violence Hom icide Report, there were 40 domestic violence related deaths in Wisconsin in 2011. The deceased in these cases ranged in age from less than a year to 82 years, with one in five of them being under the age of five. Most of these deaths occurred shortly after the victim left their abuser (2012). Substance abuse is defined as a pattern of substance use leading to significant life impairment or hardships; like failure to fulfill obligations, substance use in physically dangerous situations, frequent legal problems related to substance use, or continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Substance abuse is a diagnosable health problem, but often viewed as a moral failing which can compound the issues of people seeking services for sobriety (Bland Edmund, 2005). Substance abuse can also cause reduced inhibitions, clouded thought processes and lesser abilities to access threats which may caus e a person to miss the warning signs of an abusive person. While they may lessen the self -protective instincts of victims, the side effects of substance abuse are often noticed by manipulative