DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
STATISTICS
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A woman beaten in the United States every 9 seconds. (FBI statistics, 1997)
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One in 10 calls made to alert police to domestic violence is placed by a child
in the home.
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50% of homeless women and children are fleeing abuse. (Ford Foundation Study,
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A woman is killed in Florida due to domestic violence every 36 hours.(FDLE,
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Nearly 1 in 3 adult women experience at least one physical assault by an
intimate partner during adulthood
1990)
1997)
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Battering is the single greatest cause of injury for
women, causing more injuries than auto accidents,
muggings, and rapes combined. (Horn, 1992)
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22% - 35% of women who visit emergency rooms
are there for injuries related to ongoing abuse.
(American Medical Association)
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40% - 50% of women killed in this country are
murdered by their partners; 3% of men are killed by
their partners. (FBI, 1997
DOES SUBSTANCE ABUSE CAUSE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE DOES NOT CAUSE
BATTERING….however, a battering incident
coupled with alcohol/drug abuse may be more
severe and result in greater injury.
Tragically, in attempting to ease the pain, a
substance abusing victim may actually
increase the danger she/he is exposed to:
 Drugs and alcohol make the victim less
aware of, and less responsive to, cues of
forthcoming violence
 Less able to escape, the victim is more likely
to fight back, thus increasing the likelihood
of serious injury.
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Battered women and substance abuse:
 In her book, “Compelled to Crime”, Beth
Richie found that many battered women had
been introduced to drugs by their abusive
partner
 The introduction was coercive
 The abuse preceded the use
 Battered women believed using drugs
enhanced safety
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BATTERED WOMEN USE SUBSTANCES…
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To cope
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To self-medicate
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To use with the batterer because she feels the
violence DECREASES when he is high

Many times the substance abuse has
become the primary coping mechanism for
the violence.

For the battered women who is truly
addicted…..the challenge of substance
abuse recovery can only come if she is living
without violence.
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Referral to a certified substance abuse
program is critical.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MAY BE THE CORE
ISSUE….
substance abuse treatment has a much less
likelihood of succeeding
until the core issue is resolved.
IF HE/SHE WOULD JUST STOP USING…
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THE LINK BETWEEN ALCOHOL/DRUG USE AND
VIOLENCE OFFERS A WAY FOR HER TO
UNDERSTAND HER PARTNER’S BEHAVIOR.
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THIS GIVES THE BATTERED WOMAN FALSE
HOPE THAT IF HER PARTNER WOULD STOP
USING, THE VIOLENCE
WOULD END.
VICTIMS OF DOMESTICE VIOLENCE
FEAR FAILURE
MORE
THAN THE NEXT VIOLENT INCIDENT

ALTHOUGH SUBSTANCE ABUSE &
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE RELATED, THEY
ARE SEPARATE ISSUES WITH CRUCIAL
DIFFERENCES.
Substance abuse is primarily harmful to the
USER.
 Domestic Violence is primarily harmful to
THE PERSON BEING ABUSED.

While equal numbers of men and women
may be substance abusers, men are
overwhelmingly the perpetrators and women
are overwhelmingly the recipients of
violence.
 While domestic violence is a criminal act,
chemical dependency is criminal in ONLY
SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. And yet…there has
been a stronger criminal justice response to
drunk driving/drug abuse than to the
battering of women.
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CO-DEPENDENCY GROUPS
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Codependency groups provide comfort for some
abused women. Group members are encouraged to
focus on themselves, and to stop enabling or
protecting their partner from the natural
consequences of the substance abuse. They are
encouraged to be assertive and to ask for what they
want. For a woman in an abusive relationship….this
can be very dangerous. If they use these newly
learned strategies, the severity and frequency of the
domestic violence may escalate.
Abused women need to constantly assess
their partner’s moods and find it necessary
to cover up for them as a part of their
survival strategy.
 What appears to be dysfunctional may be an
excellent survival tactic for the abused
woman.
 When battered women are encouraged to
stop these behaviors they are in essence
being asked to stop doing what may be
keeping them alive.
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Battered women are women in crisis, women in
trauma, and they will use whatever coping mechanism
that successfully blocks out the pain, minimizes the
danger, and helps them survive the day.
Battered women who abuse substances are
frequently accused of causing the battering and revictimized by those who should be helping them.
LINKS BETWEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
There are significant links between domestic
violence and substance abuse:
 65% - 75% of batterers frequently abused
alcohol
 Most batterers reporting also used violence
when NOT under the influence
 One study indicated that 18% of battered
women were intoxicated at the time of their last
beating.
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Battered women have a risk of attempting
suicide 8 times greater than for non-battered
women.
 Battered women have a risk of drug abuse 6
times greater than for non-battered women.
 Battered women have a rate of alcohol
abuse 15 times greater than for nonbattered women.
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Forcing substance abusing battered women
into addiction treatment programs CAN revictimize them.
 Twelve step programs have been uniquely
successful in establishing sobriety for some
substance abusers. However, the original
founders of AA were men who presumably
had little knowledge about the impact of
violence on women.

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Even thought the 12-step programs have
been effective for many women, survivors of
domestic violence need more assistance
with safety and survival issues. For those
who find support and comfort in AA
programs, they should be encouraged to
continue.
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Safety planning, however, is imperative.
UNDERSTANDING 12 STEPS FOR VICTIMS
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Any individual attempting to help an abused
individual who is using drugs/ alcohol to cope
should be familiar with the tenets of 12 Step
Programs and understand their limitations for
battered women.
STEP #1
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WE ADMITTED WE WERE POWERLESS OVER ALCOHOL –
THAT OUR LIVES HAD BECOME UNMANAGEABLE.
Battered women: I know my life is unmanageable! My
partner abuses me and has power over me and my life!
(This is a difficult message to overcome. It needs to be
stressed that this and all other steps refer to the drug of
choice, not relationships. However, in all probability, it is
true that the relationship is unmanageable for you at this
time.)
STEP #2
CAME TO BELIEVE THAT A POWER GREATER THAN
OURSELVES COULD RESTORE US TO SANITY.
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Battered women: I am insane. My partner was
right!
(Again, this refers to the bizarre behavior caused
by the drug/alcohol, not that you have a
diagnosable mental health disorder. However, if
you are in an abusive relationship, separate from
the drugs, PTSD symptoms may be present.)
STEP #3
MADE A DECISION TO TURN OUR WILL AND OUR
LIVES OVER TO THE CARE OF GOD AS WE
UNDERSTOOD HIM.
 Battered women: I need to surrender again?
 (God, as we understand, not as anybody else.
Particularly, we do not surrender to the
person who does not have your best interest
in mind as a primary goal.)
STEP #4
MADE A SEARCHING AND FEARLESS MORAL
INVENTORY OF OURSELVES.
 Battered women: I am stupid, worthless,
no good at anything. It is my fault.
 (No…No…No… this is a healthy exercise for
anyone….We need to be responsible for our
own behavior, not others. Every person
has value.
STEP #5
ADMITTED TO GOD, TO OURSELVES, AND TO ANOTHER
HUMAN BEING THE EXACT NATURE OF OUR
WRONGS.
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Battered women: I guess I am wrong again. I
deserved the beatings.
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(The sharing of this inventory is a cleansing exercise.
No one deserves to be verbally, emotionally, sexually
or physically abused for any reason. Others have no
right to set themselves up as our judge, jury, or
executioner.)
STEP #6
WERE ENTIRELY READY TO HAVE GOD REMOVE ALL
THESE DEFECTS OF CHARACTER.

Battered women: Only my higher power can remove
my defects. I am helpless, hopeless and
inadequate.
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(We have to do our part in correcting our own
behavior. God can help, but we have to choose to
make changes, and get the information to make
good choices and options.)
STEP #7
HUMBLY ASK HIM TO REMOVE OUR
SHORTCOMINGS.
 Battered women: Here I am begging to be a
better person. If I am a better woman, will
the violence stop?
 (Being a better person is not necessarily the
point of this step. The idea is to ask for help
in making healthy choices.)
STEP #8
MAKE A LIST OF ALL PERSONS WE HAD HARMED, AND
BECAME WILLING TO MAKE AMENDS TO THEM ALL.
 Battered women: I’ve nearly always been willing to
apologize again and again. Maybe if I keep
apologizing, my abuser will change or someone will
help me.
 (A person is willing to make amends for harm I have
done, has no assurances that others will change their
behavior. There are people who care will help if you
ask.)
STEP #9
MAKE DIRECT AMENDS TO SUCH PEOPLE WHEREVER
POSSIBLE, EXCEPT WHEN TO DO SO WOULD INJURE THEM
OR OTHERS.


Battered women: Others’ feelings are more important than
mine and should always be put first. Maybe if I ask for
forgiveness, the batterer will stop. After all, I have made
some serious mistakes.
(To make amends where appropriate is healthy. This does
not mean we have to be submissive because another
demands it. We have all made mistakes, this only proves
we are human. It does not mean we deserve to be abused
or punished by someone else.)
STEP #10
CONTINUED TO TAKE PERSONAL INVENTORY
AND WHEN WE WERE WRONG, PROMPTLY
ADMITTED IT.
Battered women: It has always been my
fault. I keep taking responsibility and
apologizing. I am so stupid.
 (We take honest inventory of ourselves, not
allow others to do this and then tell us how
we are wrong.)
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STEP #11
SOUGHT THROUGH PRAYER AND MEDITATION TO IMPROVE
OUR CONSCIOUS CONTACT WITH GOD AS WE
UNDERSTOOD HIM, PRAYING ONLY FOR KNOWLEDGE OF
HIS WILL FOR US AND THE POWER TO CARRY THAT OUT.


Battered women: I have already surrendered completely.
I am nothing. Is this His will and plan for me?
(Every person has value. However, God needs your help
in fulfilling the plan. Your plan for your life is best
achieved with His help, but your efforts to make good safe
choices for yourself are crucial.)
STEP #12
HAVING HAD A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING AS THE
RESULT OF THESE STEPS, WE TRIED TO CARRY
THIS MESSAGE TO ALCOHOLICS, AND TO PRACTICE
THESE PRINCIPLES IN ALL OUR AFFAIRS.

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Battered women: Spiritual awakening? What has
changed in my life? Will I have to be frightened all
my life?
(You cannot develop spirituality while remaining in
a relationship where you are abused. Seeking
professional help to end the abuse is an avenue
you may want to consider.)
ABUSE COUNSELING & TREATMENT, INC.
(ACT)
1-800-500-1119
(239) 939-3112
24-HOUR HOTLINE
SERVICES ARE FREE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN AND SURVIVORS OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THEIR FAMILIES
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND DV
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