Session 4 Substance Abuse

4.1 Overview of Session 4 Learning Objectives   Articulate the definition of substance abuse.   Articulate the difference between substance use, abuse, dependence and addiction.   Describe the types of substance abuse treatment services available.   Explain the connection between domestic violence and substance abuse including the distinction that there is a relationship in terms of co-occurrence; there is not a causal relationship.   Describe similarities and differences between the substance abuse and domestic violence service systems.

4.1 (cont) Overview of Session 4 Agenda   4.1Opening 15 min   4.2Overview of Substance Abuse – Dependence and Addiction 20 min   4.3Woman Abuse, Substance Abuse: 25 min What is the Relationship?   4.4The Connection Between Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse 20 min   4.5 Similarities and Differences between Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse Agencies 25 min   4.6 Closing and Homework Assignment 15 min

4.2 Definition : Substance Abuse This definition is an adaptation of the DSM-IV definition that is commonly used in the work of Patti Bland from the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault when working with women struggling to address safety and sobriety. It reads: “Substance abuse is the continued use of drugs, including alcohol, even when such use causes problems. If a person experiences unusual tolerance or withdrawal, the substance abuse has probably progressed to addiction. Addiction is a chronic disease which is often progressive and fatal.”

4.3 Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Statistics I 4.3 Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Statistics I   Both research and experience suggests that substance abuse is one of several important factors that increase the risk of intimate partner violence. Intimate partner violence also increases the risk for substance abuse.   Since substance abuse and intimate partner violence have a reciprocal relationship, viewing one problem as a cause of the other is not useful.

4.4 Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Statistics II 4.4 Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Statistics II   On average between 2001 and 2005: The presence of any alcohol or drugs was reported by victims in about 42% of all nonfatal intimate partner violence incidents. Victims reported that approximately 8% of all nonfatal intimate partner victimizations occurred when a perpetrator was under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. Female and male victims of nonfatal intimate partner violence were equally likely to report the presence of alcohol during their victimization. Female and male victims of nonfatal intimate partner violence both reported their attacker was under the influence of drugs in about 6% of all victimizations.

4.5 Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Statistics III 4.5 Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Statistics III   Findings from a recently published study suggests that alcohol consumption is associated with dating violence among heavy-drinking college students. Among victims, 75% of female students reported that their partner was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the verbal- emotional abuse, whereas the corresponding proportions for male students was 58%.   An examination of the link between risk for intimate partner violence and both drinking quantity and frequency revealed that men who consumed five or more drinks per drinking day were significantly more likely to report intimate partner violence than men consuming fewer drinks per day.