CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to the Issues
2. Understanding Alcohol Abuse
3. Understanding Violence Against Women
4. Alcohol and Domestic Violence
5. Alcohol, Sexual Assault, and Rape
6. Prevention and Early Intervention
7. Screening and Assessment
8. Diagnosis and Treatment
9. Legal and Ethical Issues

Supplements
Fact Sheets
Videos
Resources

Silence Hurts
Alcohol Abuse and Violence Against Women

Case Study 2: Man and woman have drinking/drug problem and share one child

Michael and Joelle have known each other for years, having grown up in the same neighborhood. Both of them come from unstable, violent homes. Joelle witnessed her own parents' fighting when she was growing up and saw her mother get drunk and suffer physical abuse. Michael's father was an alcoholic and was verbally abusive to his wife.

They met at a party years ago and began partying together on a regular basis. Over the years, Michael has become more and more anxious and suspicious about Joelle being attracted to and flirting with other men. They have the same friends who get together regularly. They did not plan to have their daughter, Kelly, who is 4 years old.

When Michael and Joelle are partying, they send Kelly to her room or to a neighbor's house. Often, one of her parents forgets to pick her up from preschool. When this happens, Kelly has to stay at the neighbor's house, who picks her up when her parents cannot.

As time passes, Michael begins to verbally abuse Joelle. After nights of heavy drinking, he slaps her around. In the past, when she has tried to stop drinking, he has forced alcohol on her as a way of maintaining control and power. On several occasions, he has yelled at Kelly and hit her. Joelle begins to fear for Kelly's safety.

Key Points

• Both Michael and Joelle have drinking problems.
• Their entire social life revolves around drinking and partying.
• Michael becomes verbally abusive to Joelle before he becomes physically violent.
• Kelly has seen abuse and has been the victim of abuse on more than one occasion.
• Joelle becomes truly scared once Kelly becomes the victim of Michael's violence.
• Joelle has three major concerns:
  1. Her own safety.
  2. Her daughter's safety.
  3. Her need to stay sober.
• Joelle needs to find a safe place for herself and her daughter, such as a domestic violence shelter. She also needs to address her alcohol use. Joelle needs to contact a local domestic violence center as soon as possible to discuss a safety plan and a safe place to stay. She also can hear her legal options. Joelle may run the risk of having Kelly taken away from her by Child Protective Services. Authorities may deem Joelle an unfit mother due to her substance abuse and her keeping Kelly in a violent situation. This is why it is extremely important that Joelle get help as soon as possible.

A woman's main concern in a violent relationship is safety. If she has children, she also has to find ways to keep them safe. However, if she is an alcoholic or is forced by her partner to drink or do drugs, she is in a difficult position. Her goal of staying safe may be undermined by her partner's threats. Thus, she is caught between staying clean and sober and staying safe.

Similarly, a woman who abuses alcohol or drugs before beginning a relationship may increase her chances of becoming the victim of domestic or dating violence. Women who abuse alcohol and crack cocaine have a greater chance of being victimized than those who do not use drugs.¹ In one study, 60 percent of the female substance abusers who were getting treatment were also victims of domestic violence. Forty-two percent of the women in domestic violence shelters were substance abusers.²

In other words, for women, abusing alcohol or drugs may increase the risk of becoming a victim, and becoming a victim may increase the risk of abusing alcohol or drugs. The relationship between the two is reciprocal. As the violence increases, the substance use can increase as well.

References

1. Liebschutz, J. M., Mulvey, K. P. & Samet, J. H. (1997). Victimization among substance-abusing women: Worse health outcomes. Archives of Internal Medicine, 157(10), 1093-1097.
2. Bennett, L., & Lawson, M. (1994). Barriers to cooperation between domestic-violence and substance-abuse programs. Families in Society, 75(5), 277.