Silence Hurts
Alcohol Abuse and Violence Against Women
Abuse Screening
Make it clear that all men in the substance abuse treatment program will be screened for violence. This helps ensure victim safety if the man does not believe that the staff person was "tipped off" by his partner. The tools to screen for domestic violence mentioned in earlier sections apply here as well. If a professional identifies a man as having used violence:
- Immediately refer him to staff at a domestic violence program to get him enrolled in batterer's intervention. If there is not an integrated system within your agency, you will need to locate the local domestic violence program.
- Use separate facilities to provide services to the batterer and his female victim. If this is not possible, try to schedule appointments at times when the perpetrator and victim will not be in the facility at the same time.
- If the client's attendance has been court mandated, contact the probation officer immediately.
- Remember that abstinence does not always ensure that the violence will stop.
- Do not provide him with family or couples therapy.
Because many substance abuse and domestic violence agencies have not fully integrated or coordinated their services, it is important for a substance abuse treatment facility to train staff to be knowledgeable about domestic violence.
Some agencies have developed a Qualified Service Organization Agreement 25 or another type of linkage agreement that establishes regular communication between substance abuse treatment providers and local domestic violence programs. Agreements also help to ensure proper confidentiality requirements are met and followed.
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Last Updated: 6/14/04
SAMHSA is an Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
