Help is available for abusers and victims

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is a time to recognize victims and raise awareness about the devastating impact of domestic violence.

October was first declared Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989, with the goal of connecting advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and children. The theme for this year is, “#Every1KnowsSome1” and strives to bring awareness of how common domestic violence is, and that it is more than physical violence. This awareness has also come to light that it does not just impact women and children, but men also. Statistics show that there are more than 10 million abuse victims annually, and that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been physically abused by an intimate partner, and 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men have been severely physically abused by an intimate partner.

I wanted to explore the connection between substance use and domestic violence and found that addiction and substance abuse is linked to domestic violence in a strong way.

It should be made clear, that substance abuse does not cause domestic violence, but the two are closely linked.

Nearly 80% of domestic violence crimes are related to the use of drugs. Addiction and domestic violence share a number of characteristics, such as, a loss of control, continued behavior despite negative consequences, addiction and abuse tend to worsen over time, and both addiction and domestic violence involve denial or shame.

Also, the risk of domestic violence increases when both individuals have a substance abuse disorder. If the victim is under the influence, it may be difficult for them to determine how much danger they are actually in. They will have difficulty defending themselves against a partner’s attack, or being able to call someone for help. The reality is, domestic violence becomes a vicious cycle and if left untreated, domestic abuse can continue to perpetuate an unhealthy dynamic in a relationship that can have severe consequences.

I found additional information from The Addiction Center that published some startling statistics: those who abuse substances are significantly more likely to commit acts of violence against an intimate partner or family member; nearly half of all men who assaulted their partners had been using a substance the day of; alcohol was involved in more than two-thirds of cases when men attempted to kill their partner; women who abuse cocaine or heroin are more likely to experience abuse in a relationship; and those who experience domestic abuse are at a high risk of abusing drugs or alcohol.

Knowing all of this information, it is vital that individuals with the potential for violence and have a substance use disorder seek the help they desperately need. The key to sobriety, and freedom from a destructive relationship pattern, is to not only find the right treatment for the violence, but also for the substance abuse.

There is treatment available in the community to help both the abuser and the abused. Cloud Peak Counseling Center offers a domestic violence/batterer intervention treatment group that meets twice a week; anger management classes just for men and just for women; a variety of substance abuse treatment programs to meet your specific needs and to help an individual enter a life of recovery; and individual therapy for individuals who have been a victim of domestic violence, as well as, specialized EMDR treatment that helps the individual recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences.

If you are struggling with addiction and violent patterns in your life, please seek help.

And if you are currently in a domestic violence situation, please reach out to the Crisis Prevention and Response Center for help and guidance. They can assist you in finding safety and getting treatment services to help you recover from the trauma.

Help is available.