Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Substance Abuse; What's the Connection?

We were recently contacted by an organization working to end domestic violence and substance abuse. 
In this post we will be sharing some of what we learned from this organization about the ways in which domestic violence, substance abuse, and sexual abuse can be interconnected.  To go directly to the resources, click the buttons below.  We will be explaining a bit more about these organizations in the post.  If you are experiencing domestic abuse, abuse involving drugs or alcohol, abuse from someone with addiction problems, or struggling with addictions as a result of abuse or trauma, please know that there is help available!

DrugRehab.com: Domestic Violence & Substance Abuse

Online Recovery Chat Rooms Hosted by The Recovery Village Ridgefield

To keep reading, note this **TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of types of abuse.
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• "Domestic violence is the intentional use of emotional, psychological, sexual or physical force by one family member or intimate partner to control another.
  Victims of domestic violence who struggle with addiction face significant barriers to receiving treatment, but programs that effectively address addiction and abuse-related trauma are available." - Sonia Tagliereni
  The first button above will take you to Sonia's full article on this topic from DrugRehab.com.
  
  Other important facts, directly from Sonia's article:
• When compared with individuals who have not been raped, victims of rape are:
  3.4 times more likely to use marijuana
  5.3 times more likely to misuse prescription drugs
  6.4 times more likely to use cocaine
  10 times more likely to use hard drugs other than cocaine
• According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, research has found that both victims and abusers are 11 times more likely to be involved in domestic violence incidents on days of heavy substance use.
• 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 tendencies.
• Women who go through physical abuse often deal with stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation and physical pain. These women may resort to abusing substances to self-medicate their pain or dissolve their traumatic memories.
• Because of the anxiety and depression associated with domestic violence, doctors typically prescribe tranquilizers, sedatives and painkillers to address the symptoms. Survivors of intimate partner violence may misuse these medications, leading to a substance use disorder.  
• Victims of physical and sexual abuse have higher rates of substance use disorders than those who have never experienced abuse. One study found that more than 80 percent of male survivors of childhood sexual abuse had a history of substance abuse. Women with any history of sexual abuse in childhood were about three times more likely than nonabused women to report drug dependency during adulthood.​
• Substance-involved domestic abuse also includes:
  Introducing partners to substances of abuse
  Forcing partners to carry, sell or buy drugs
  Encouraging substance use as a form of control over partners
  Prostituting partners in exchange for drugs or money
  Preventing partners from seeking and receiving substance abuse treatment (End quotation)

As heartbreaking and disturbing as these statistics are, everyone involved is better off if the issues are addressed.  It is understood that addictions are a common part of "coping" with trauma.  Traumatic feelings can be so big and so difficult that it can be hard for survivors to live their daily lives, and addictions to substances or behaviors seem to numb the pain and help it become buried further and further.  Ultimately, this does not lead to a happy or healthy life - and, in instances of suicide, may even lead to no life at all. 

"DrugRehab.com is a web resource provided and funded by Advanced Recovery Systems (ARS). Since 2015, the website has provided researched, fact-based resources for free. Readers can learn about the risks of various substances, the latest approaches to treatment and real stories of recovery on DrugRehab.com."  Their website has tons of amazing articles, information, and resources, and they have in-person treatment centers with numerous locations around the United States.  

We received their information in conjunction with The Recovery Village Ridgefield which is a facility in the Pacific Northwest region of the US.  Their mission statement says: "At The Recovery Village Ridgefield Drug and Alcohol Rehab, we specialize in more than just treating substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. Our primary mission is to change lives, one person at a time. Since we first opened our doors in April 2016, we’ve led hundreds of men and women down the road to recovery, and we hope to lead hundreds more."   Their website also provides links to other treatment centers and resources.

These resources are not the only ones available for addictions or addictive behaviors.  You may find more information on recovery from specific addictions with the support of 12-Step Groups, including:
Alcoholics Anonymous
Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Survivors of Incest Anonymous

12-Step programs aren't for everyone, but if nothing else, they can be a free, or low-cost place to start the journey - a place where you will be surrounded by others with the same struggles, looking to support one another, and for you to know that you are not alone.  Plus, many meetings have now moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making it even easier to find support immediately.  Don't be afraid to do a little research on other organizations that help with addiction recovery or domestic violence recovery.   Many, many options are available. 

Although these factors can be complicated (and I know, because I've been there) the best choice for survivors is to get safe, get healthy, and to deal - not only with addiction recovery or sobriety - but for the underlying causes that motivate people to seek out substances as a coping mechanism in the first place: trauma and unresolved painful emotions.  To learn more about healing trauma from the inside out, please visit our Resources for Trauma Survivors page, where you can find videos describing trauma healing, and downloadable PDFs detailing books, trauma healing modalities, and other resources.

Healing IS possible.  Today is the perfect day to start. 

Lots of love,
Christine