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The nature of the
relationship between substance abuse and domestic violence.
Griffing, S., Sage, R.E., Madry, L., Bingham, L.E., Primm,
B.J. & Ragin, D.F.
Paper presented at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence,
Acapulco, Mexico (June 1999).
The present study explores the relationship between substance
abuse and domestic violence. Forty-six female residents
of an urban domestic violence shelter were interviewed
about the frequency of substance use by both partners
in the relationship, rates of substance abuse in their
families of origin, and the residents’ perceptions
of the specific ways in which substance abuse contributed
to the relational violence. Fifty percent of participants
reported that their partners’ substance abuse served
as a catalyst to the domestic abuse. Specifically, three
clusters of catalysts were identified: 1) The batterer,
after drinking or using drugs, becomes argumentative which
leads to abuse, 2) The batterer becomes abusive when asked
to seek treatment and, 3) The batterer exerts force on
the victim to use or withdraw from substances or prevents
victims from seeking substance abuse treatment. Finally,
participants reported high rates of substance abuse in
their family of origin as well as in their batterers’
family of origin. These statistical trends underscore
the need for a collaborative approach among service providers
in the substance abuse and violence fields.
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