| Every 15 seconds a woman is subjected to domestic | | | | Treatment for a batterer with a substance abuse |
| violence in the United States. Domestic violence can | | | | problem can be much more difficult than the already |
| be defined as a pattern of abusive behavior that is | | | | difficult treatment for a person with just a drug or |
| used to gain or maintain power and control in an | | | | alcohol addiction problem. The most common model |
| intimate relationship, such as marriage, dating, family, | | | | for batterer intervention is the Duluth Model. The |
| friendship or living together. Anyone can be a victim | | | | Duluth Model is a behavioral change model that seeks |
| or perpetrator of domestic violence. | | | | to alter the batterer's behavior by confronting his |
| Keeping this in mind, we will be focusing on male | | | | denial, his need for power and control and helping him |
| batterers and female survivors of domestic violence | | | | realize his alternatives to the violent behavior. This |
| since this is the "typical" scenario and will be seen | | | | model is a community-wide model that involves many |
| most often in treatment facilities. We will discuss | | | | people including law enforcement which ensures that |
| substance abuse in both the batterer and the | | | | the batterer will be arrested while the survivor is |
| survivor. | | | | protected. |
| When most people think of the relationship between | | | | Like I said above, when most people think of |
| substance abuse and domestic violence they picture | | | | substance abuse and domestic violence they only |
| an alcoholic husband beating his wife, and while this is | | | | think of the addiction in the batterer. However, |
| one case, it is most certainly not the only. This case | | | | survivors of domestic violence are also likely to |
| suggests a direct correlation between substance | | | | present in treatment programs with drug or alcohol |
| abuse and the occurrence of domestic violence. | | | | problems. In fact, in 2002, the Department of Justice |
| However, most studies show that while they are | | | | reported that 36% of survivors in domestic violence |
| linked the relationship is not that straightforward. | | | | programs also had substance abuse problems. |
| The problem with directly linking the two issues | | | | Again, there is no direct cause and effect relationship |
| together is similar to problems in dealing with | | | | between a survivor's addiction and the domestic |
| co-occurring disorders (dual diagnosis) in that the | | | | violence although it is commonly thought that the |
| question that is most often debated is which one | | | | violence increases the likelihood that a survivor will |
| came first, the drinking or the violence. Even though | | | | abuse alcohol or drugs. While this may not be the |
| according to the U.S. Department of Justice study | | | | case for all survivors with drug or alcohol problems, |
| reports that 61% of domestic violence offenders | | | | both the domestic violence and the addiction have an |
| also have substance abuse problems, we must | | | | extreme impact on the survivor's recovery from |
| remember that the violence may not necessarily be a | | | | both and the treatment provider needs to be aware |
| consequence of the substance abuse and that the | | | | of this. |
| substance abuse could be a result of the violence. | | | | When a client presents for substance abuse |
| However, as with co-occurring disorders, it is | | | | treatment and reports a history of domestic violence, |
| imperative that we address both issues and not | | | | especially a recent history, there are several steps |
| focus too much which came first. | | | | that a treatment provider should follow. First, the |
| Substance abuse in the batterer is what most people | | | | provider should make sure that the client is in a safe |
| will think about when substance abuse and domestic | | | | environment and that they understand that while |
| violence are mentioned together so we will discuss | | | | they are at the facility they are safe. Second, the |
| this first. The characteristics of a batterer are very | | | | provider should never doubt the survivor's story, |
| similar to the characteristics and risk factors you | | | | even if there are discrepancies. If a client feels they |
| would find in substance abusers. These characteristics | | | | cannot trust the counselor or provider they will leave |
| include: witnessing parental violence, parental | | | | treatment and put themselves back in dangerous |
| substance abuse, corporal punishment, depression, | | | | situations. Finally, during the assessment the provider |
| socioeconomic hardships and an intense need for | | | | should identify the client's options and the perceived |
| power and control. | | | | benefits and consequences with each option and |
| Despite the difficulty of finding an exact cause and | | | | then have the client work on a safety plan. This will |
| effect relationship between substance abuse and | | | | involve the client and make them feel involved in their |
| domestic violence, experts have organized batterers | | | | treatment and encourage them to stay and feel as |
| into three categories in order to improve their | | | | though they can accomplish their goals. One of the |
| treatment. The first category is "Typical Batterers". | | | | most important things to remember when working |
| Typical batterers are characterized by keeping the | | | | with survivors is that their safety, both physical and |
| violence they inflict in the home, which will be less | | | | emotional, is the most important obstacle in the initial |
| severe when compared to other batterers, and are | | | | stages of treatment to be addressed. If it is not |
| usually not substance abusers. They will also most | | | | addressed immediately the likelihood of the client |
| likely have no history of legal troubles, mental illness | | | | staying in treatment is very low. |
| and will usually be remorseful for the violence. The | | | | Domestic violence and substance abuse are |
| second category is "Antisocial Batterers". | | | | separately two of the most devastating issues in |
| The characteristics of the antisocial batterer include | | | | American society today, but combined they are |
| being extremely abusive, having some mental health | | | | significantly worse and more attention needs to be |
| issues, may be a substance abuser and will most | | | | paid to the relationship and treatment of the two. It |
| likely have difficulty completing domestic violence | | | | is vital to properly screen and assess clients as soon |
| program without being provided additional services. | | | | as they present for substance abuse treatment so |
| The third category is "Sociopathic Batterers". The | | | | the next steps of the treatment provider will be the |
| characteristics of a sociopathic batterer include being | | | | correct ones. There are many resources available on |
| the most extremely violent, heavy substance abuse, | | | | domestic violence and addiction including SAMHSA |
| tremendous difficulties in treatment programs, little or | | | | TIP 25, the National Coalition Against Domestic |
| no empathy for others, no remorse for the violence | | | | Violence, the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug |
| inflicted and the most likely of the three categories | | | | & other Addiction Services, and Women's Rural |
| to have had legal issues. | | | | Advocacy Programs. |