CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. Getting The Basics
2. Substance Abuse
3. Violence Against Women
4. Violent Men
5. Alcohol and Violence
6. Alcohol, Drugs and Sexual Assault (Date Rape)
7. Preventing Sexual Assault
8. After a Rape or Sexual Assault
9. Assistance - Women
10. Assistance - Men
11. Legal Options

Supplements
Resources
Glossary
Fact Sheets

It Won't Happen to Me:
Substance Abuse-Related Violence Against Women for Anyone Concerned About The Issues

Patterns of Domestic Violence

In an abusive relationship, the man generally exerts power over the woman. This happens whether abuse involves physical violence, emotional or sexual harm, or conflicts and abuse involving money. Although the woman is sometimes the aggressor, in 85 percent of cases, the man is the abuser and the woman is the victim.⁴

Although there is a connection between alcohol abuse and domestic or dating violence, not all men who abuse their partners drink. Many men do not become violent when they drink. A man who drinks or uses drugs may abuse his partner when he is using and when he is not using. This creates even more stress for abused women because there is not one simple pattern for men who abuse alcohol or other drugs.¹

In some abusive relationships, the man may abuse alcohol before becoming violent toward his partner but not in every case. There are cases where both partners may be abusing substances before and during the relationship. Neither one is able to stay sober without the other damaging his or her efforts.

Often, when a violent man stops abusing alcohol, his violent, controlling behavior increases. Therefore, for their own safety, some women try to get the man to keep drinking. If the woman tries to get sober, the man often forces her to get drunk with him. She complies to avoid further abuse. Either way, each person's efforts at staying sober fail.