The Link Between Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse
The complex link between domestic violence and substance abuse creates unique challenges to treatment and encourages relapse in both behaviors.
Domestic violence and chemical dependency share similar characteristics, such as loss of control, continued negative behaviors despite knowing the consequences, obsession, tolerance development and withdrawal.
Forty to sixty percent of domestic violence incidents involve substance abuse, according to a 2014 article published by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. More than one in five male abusers admitted to using substances before the most recent and extreme acts of violence, highlighting that drugs and alcohol may exacerbate violent behaviors.
DOMESTIC ABUSE AGAINST
FEMALE PARTNERS WAS
2 to 4 times higher
AMONG MEN WITH ALCOHOL
PROBLEMS THAN AMONG OTHER MEN.
47% of domestic assaults
OCCURRED AFTER SUBSTANCE USE COMPARED
TO 31% OF NONDOMESTIC ASSAULTS