Alcohol and Domestic Violence Don t Mix

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Lydia Bradford
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1 Alcohol and Domestic Violence Don t Mix Turning Point Domestic Violence Services 24 hour crisis line: (800) Johnson Co. Office: (317)

2 Presenter Stephanie Cunningham, MSW Johnson County Community Services Director Turning Point

3 Objectives of the Presentation Present information about the relationship between DV and substance abuse Discuss the importance of treating both issues Turning Point

4 Turning Point Services for Victims of DV Residential Shelter Community Outreach services in 6 of our 8 county region Bartholomew (3) Brown Jackson Jefferson Johnson Shelby Columbus Turning Point

5 Turning Point is. 24/7 Crisis Line: bed emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence located in Columbus All client services are free including clothing, food, toiletries, child advocacy, and professional services Outreach Services in six counties Primary Prevention Education Professional Trainings Help for Today. Hope for Tomorrow. Turning Point

6 Working Effectively with Victims of Domestic Violence Meeting the client where s/he is at: Assessing their readiness to leave the relationship Safety Planning DV Education Legal Advocacy Referrals Assistance with accessing community resources Turning Point

7 Agency Service Stats Families Served in Community Outreach Adults Served in Shelter Children Served In Shelter Total Nights of Shelter Prevention/Professional Presentations Attendance Turning Point

8 2013 Statistics: Johnson County 11 Adults Served in Shelter 11 Children Served in Shelter 159 Nights of Shelter 168 families served through Community Outreach Services 74 primary prevention/professional trainings with 612 individuals in attendance Turning Point

9 What is Domestic Violence? One partner in an intimate relationship exerts a pattern of Power and Control tactics over the other partner using manipulation and fear. The use of violence and other coercive tactics are designed to gain control over the thoughts, beliefs, and conduct of the other partner. Turning Point

10 Domestic violence is a pattern of abuse. We are not talking about single acts of violence. Consider both the violence in the relationship and the use of control in maintaining power in the relationship. Turning Point

11 Type of Violence in a Relationship Intimate Terrorist violent and controlling most likely type of violence to be perpetrated against clients seen at Turning Point. Violent Resistor - violent but not controlling- victims uses violence in response to the intimate terrorist. Situational Couple Violence either partner may be violent but neither partner is controlling. Generally, single acts or lower level of violence that rarely comes to the attention of law enforcement. Mutual Violence Controlling both are violent and both are controlling rarer form. (Johnson, 2008) Turning Point

12 Turning Point Clients Vast majority of clients we serve in Shelter and Outreach are the victims of intimate terrorist. Partner is both violent and controlling. Violence is severe enough that client has moved out of the home to escape the violence. Seeking shelter to avoid violence. Level of coercive control is high. Client may have filed a protective order. Turning Point

13 Abuse is often cyclical It is estimated that a victim will leave the relationships 5 times before s/he leaves for good (Okum, 1986). Why, because the relationship is not all bad. The abuse occurs cyclically and is not occurring all the time. Honeymoon Phase Explosion Phase Tension- Building Phase Turning Point

14 What Does NOT Cause Domestic Violence? Alcohol or Drug Use Stress Mental Illness or Genetics Anger/Rage Victim s Behavior Relationship Problems Correlation vs Causation VIOLENCE IS A CHOICE Turning Point

15 How does substance abuse increase the risk of partner abuse? By impairing judgment By increasing financial dependency By exposing victim to violent men who also abuse substances Research suggests that DV may lead a woman to both abuse substances and to partner with men who abuse them (Gutierres & Van Puymbroeck, 2006; Najavits, Sonn, Walsh, & Weiss, 2004). Turning Point

16 Acute and chronic effects of substance abuse may prevent women from accurately assessing the level of danger posed by their perpetrators. Under the influence, women may feel a sense of increased power, and may erroneously believe that they can defend themselves against physical assaults. Turning Point

17 Impact on Safety Planning Substance abuse issues should always be considered when making decisions about the safety of DV victims and the risk posed by DV perpetrators. Turning Point

18 An inability to be safe or heal from DV makes it harder for women to address their co-occurring issues. Recovering women may find that the stress of securing safety leads to relapse. Women who are abusing substances or who have abused substances in the past are less likely to be believed when they report DV. Turning Point

19 Relationship between Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Relationship between DV and substance abuse is complex and should not be reduced to one causing the other. Both domestic violence and substance abuse should be considered primary problems. Treating one problem DOES NOT treat the other. Turning Point

20 Relationship between Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Reciprocal relationship between the two, engaging in either behavior will increase the risk of the other. However, eliminating one does not eliminate the other. If one caused the other then all people who drink would be violent or all people who are violent would abuse alcohol. Must be treated as separate issues. Turning Point

21 Substance Abuse Rates among Victims It is estimated that between a 1/4 and 1/2 of women receiving victim services for domestic violence have substance abuse problems (Downs, 2001; Ogle & Baer, 2003). For 2013, nearly 16% of shelter clients reported they were abusing drugs and/or alcohol. 10% reported prior alcohol abuse. 19% reported being recovering addicts/alcoholics Rates of substance abuse for their partners were more than 45%. These numbers most likely underestimates the severity of the drug and alcohol abuse issues that are present, as clients are often reluctant to disclose this information regarding their own use at intake for fear of being turned away. Turning Point

22 2013 Substance Abuse Statistics Johnson Co. Outreach Program Victims and Abusers Victims self-report of Substance Abuse at Intake* Abuses Alcohol: 3.3% Abuses Drugs: 0.7% In Recovery for Alcohol Use: 6.6% In Recovery for Drug Use: 16.6% No Alcohol/Drug Use: 73.5% Unknown: 2.6% Victims report of Partners Substance Abuse Abuses Alcohol: 39.7% Abuses Drugs: 29.1% In Recovery for Alcohol Use: 2.6% In Recovery for Drug Use: 5.3% No Alcohol/Drug Use: 29.8% Unknown: 15.2% * rates of substance abuse much higher than what is initially reported by victim at intake. Turning Point

23 Between 67 and 80 percent of women in substance abuse treatment are DV victims (Cohen, et al., 2003; Downs, 2001). Turning Point

24 Substance Abuse issues should always be considered when making decisions about the safety of DV victims and the risk posed by DV perpetrators. Likewise, past and current DV, along with other trauma-related issues, should always be considered when assisting women recovering from the effects of substance abuse. Turning Point

25 Recognize, Respond and Refer RECOGNIZE and identify the signs of domestic violence in your clients. REPSOND sensitively with concern, and offer information, and do safety planning. REFER to DV service providers and client s workplace Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for services. Turning Point

26 Recognize Sample openings Only in Private I m going to ask you some quick, routine questions that I ask all my clients so I can better understand their situation. You mentioned your partner s temper, stresses, etc. When this happens, has your partner ever physically hurt you or threatened you? Many clients have health problems in pregnancy, some because of fights with their partners. Has this ever happened to you? Is it happening right now? Turning Point

27 Recognize Ensure privacy Never ask questions about safety or risks in front of their partner Discuss reporting requirements Gather behavioral descriptions that go beyond yes/no answers Turning Point

28 Respond Understanding the victim s story They may not tell you what really happened Some victims may be more concerned about possible repercussions from their abuser than telling you the truth. Even if you suspect abuse, they may not be ready to disclose details. They disclosed that they were using alcohol or drugs when the violence occurred. Avoid focusing on alcohol/drug use Don t dismiss story because of unhealthy coping mechanisms They still don t deserve to be battered Turning Point

29 Refer to Turning Point for Individualized, In-depth Safety Planning Refer to Turning Point Outreach Shelter Make it a part of their goals We can assess the danger We can create individualized safety planning in and out of the relationship For adult For child For workplace Turning Point

30 How Do we Handle Substance Abuse with Shelter Clients Residential policy around substance abuse Refer for drug treatment AA or NA meetings Celebrate Recovery Local Substance Abuse Treatment Providers Turning Point

31 Turning Point Shelter Policy Around Substance Abuse o We maintain a drug-free environment- alcohol and illegal drugs are not allowed on site o We do not use drug or alcohol testing during their stay o If clients use while in the program, we discuss the concern with the client & create a plan for maintaining their sobriety o Clients may be asked to leave based on their behavior, not their use o We do not screen out based on substance abuse history or current use. o We do not screen out based on mental health status o We assess the client s needs and make appropriate referrals o We do not have a Do Not Serve list Turning Point

32 Turning Point as a Resource Many resources are available outside of shelter and going into shelter is not appropriate for many victims. All advocates have access to language services for clients who do not speak English. We assist all victims of domestic violence, regardless of economic status, age, gender, sexual orientation or identity, race, ethnicity, immigration status. Turning Point

33 Resources Addiction counselors and peer-recovery specialists understand that Intimate Partner Violence impairs the opportunity for recovery (Illinois Department of Human Services, 2005; SAMHSA, 1997). Turning Point

34 Resources However, they are often less familiar with a systematic and easily integrated method for dealing with such issues. The ARIV model (and this course) was created to fill that need. ~ Developed by the Great Lakes ATTC Regional Centerwww.attcelearn.org/ Turning Point

35 Addiction Recovery and Intimate Violence (ARIV) Turning Point

36 Thank You

EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND SUBSTANCE USE/ABUSE. Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence

EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND SUBSTANCE USE/ABUSE Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence Learning Objectives Participants will explore the intersection of intimate