Casa de Esperanza 3/22/2016. The National Network. Substance, Domestic Violence and Survivors: Examining the Intersections

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1 Substance, Domestic Violence and Survivors: Examining the Intersections Jose Juan Lara Jr., MS Project Coordinator March 22, 2016 casadeesperanza.org nationallatinonetwork.org Casa de Esperanza Our mission to mobilize communities to end domestic violence is served through our five core values: Latina leadership Entrepreneurship Organizational excellence Living free of violence Community driven solutions We recognize that it is the community that will end domestic violence, not any system or organization. We emphasize developing social capital (i.e. trust, reciprocity, information and cooperation) because we believe it decreases domestic violence. The National Network The National Network is a project of Casa de Esperanza that is working at ending violence and promoting the health and well being of Latin@ communities around the country. The main goals of the National Latin@ Network are: Public Policy Research Training & Technical Assistance 1

2 The importance of language! Anti Violence Language Relationships with men and in same sex/gender relationships. Historical experiences of child physical and sexual abuse and neglect. Trauma stems from the impact of colonialism, ableism, racism, heterosexism and other systemic oppressions. Mental Health Language Is situated very clearly in the medical approach to health. Consumer is a term that is situated within the mental health system and is currently adopted by many people who access that system, alongside the term survivor. Survivor in this context means that the person is a survivor of their life experiences, their mental health difficulties or the mental health system itself. There is a continuum of substance use and the line between use and misuse varies considerably. To avoid making judgments about a survivors substance use, use the terms substance use or Substance problematic substance use, rather than substance abuse. Abuse Language Freedom from Violence: Tools for Working with Trauma, Mental Health and Substance Use Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault in Latin@ Communities 20 25% of Latinas will experience DV during her lifetime, and 1 in 20 in the previous 12 months. 5 Reported rates of DV were lower for Mexican immigrants (13.4%) than for persons of Mexican descent born in the U.S. 1 Immigrant women (including Latinas) who are married are more likely to experience DV than unmarried women. 4 A study that included 2,000 Latinas found 63.1% of women identified being victimized in their lifetime. 3 Statistics on Domestic Violence and Substance Use 25 and 50% of men who commit domestic violence also have problems with substance misuse. 7 >30% of men drank at the time they committed a domestic assault; 90% abused substances on the same day, with alcohol and cocaine abuse most common. 7 In cases where men try to kill their partner, alcohol is involved in more than two thirds of cases, and a quarter of those who committed murder had taken both alcohol and drugs. 7 75% of victims in an abusive relationship who misuse alcohol or drugs are with a partner who also abuses substances. 7 2

3 What do we know about and substance use? NOT ENOUGH! Substance Use among Consistently report lower rates of illicit drug use than non Hispanic Blacks/non Hispanic whites and higher than Asian Americans (National Household Survey on Drug Abuse). US born report higher rates of experimental use, abuse and dependence than immigrants do. Substance Use among Gender differences in substance use disorders are not unique to 6 Lifetime prevalence of alcohol use disorders was 16.7% for Latino men and 4.3% for Latina women. 6 3

4 Substance Use and Domestic Violence Interpersonal violence Stress of living in a new country Discrimination Socioeconomic pressures Loss of social support mechanisms upon immigration Exposure to drugs and alcohol often lead to chemical use and dependency Trauma and Co Occurring Issues TRAUMA Substance Abuse Mental Health Incarceration Poverty Sex Trafficking Homelessness Sorting out the messages Substance Abuse Counselor You have a disease. You need treatment. Your priority must be sobriety. You must accept your powerlessness. You need to look for your part in your problems. You need to change yourself and be of service to others. DV Advocate You are a victim of a crime. You need justice. Our priority is your safety. You need to be empowered. You are not responsible for what happened. The perpetrator must be held accountable. We need to change society. Alaska Network on Domestic and Sexual Assault Getting Safe and Sober: Real Tools You Can Use 4

5 Sorting out messages Disease or criminal behavior? Safety first or sobriety first? Powerlessness or empowerment? Who is responsible? Social change or service to others? Alaska Network on Domestic and Sexual Assault Getting Safe and Sober: Real Tools You Can Use The Survivors Substance Use Acute and chronic effects of Substance Abuse may prevent women from accurately assessing the level of danger posed by their perpetrators. 2 Substance Abuse may be encouraged or forced by an abusive partner as a mechanism of control. 2 There may be reluctance on the part of the victims to seek assistance or contact police for fear of arrest, deportation or referral to a child protection agency. 2 The compulsion to use and withdrawal symptoms may make it difficult for Substance Abuse victims of IPV to access services such as shelter, advocacy, or other forms of help. 2 Women who are using substances or who have used substances in the past may not be believed. 2 The Abusive Partners Substance Abuse For most men who batter, alcohol or drug use does not directly cause their abusive behavior. However, for most men who batter, alcohol and drug use may: Increase the risk that he will misinterpret his partner's behavior. Increase his belief that violent behavior is due to alcohol or drugs. Make him think less clearly about the repercussions of his actions. Reduce his ability to tell when a victim is injured. Reduce the chance that he will benefit from punishment, education, or treatment. Illinois Department of Human Services Addressing Substance Abuse in Batterer s Programs 5

6 Safety and Sobriety Risk to safety in traditional treatment Safety may not be linked to sobriety. The batterer may be included as part of conjoint, couples or family counseling. The batterer may sabotage treatment efforts (e.g. prevent partner from attending group, get partner to leave against medical advice, mislead counseling team, etc.). Risk to sobriety in traditional advocacy programs Sobriety may not be linked with safety. The batterer s use of alcohol and other drugs to control a partner may not be acknowledged as a risk factor in a safety plan. Poor understanding of physiology and pharmacology and focus on options and choices may lead to revictimization. Alaska Network on Domestic and Sexual Assault Getting Safe and Sober: Real Tools You Can Use Strategies for Safety, Sobriety and Wellness Identifying who to call for help (e.g. advocate, sponsor, counselor, peer), forming support systems, knowing about safe support groups and meetings. Knowing information and getting education about domestic violence, sexual assault, addiction and mental health issues. Removing substances and paraphernalia from the home. Removing weapons from their usual spot in the home. Knowing how substance use or untreated mental illness can be a safety issue. Understanding physical, emotional, cognitive, environmental and other cues indicative of risk, and having a plan to deal with it. Recognizing the role of stress and craving, and having a plan to deal with it. Alaska Network on Domestic and Sexual Assault Getting Safe and Sober: Real Tools You Can Use Substance Use and IPV in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Relationships IPV is at the same rate as in heterosexual couples. 2 The few studies that examine co occurring same sex IPV and substance abuse suggest that the prevalence of cooccurrence is not different from that among heterosexuals. 2 6

7 An abusive partner first introduced them to alcohol and drugs by forcing, threatening, and/or coercing them into using substances. Introduction Consumption Alcohol consumption was a gendered practice in which abusive partners as well as men in the family became primary consumers. Latina survivors did not consume alcohol or drugs understanding it would impair their ability to care for their children. They cared for their partners during and post intoxication. Care Reference 1 Aldarondo, E., Kantor, G.K. & Jasinski, J.L. (2002). A risk marker for analysis of wife assault in Latino families. Violence Against Women, 8(4), Bennette, L. & Bland, Patricia. (2008, May). Substance Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence. Harrisburgh, PA: VAWnet a project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. Retrieved February 4, 2016, from: 3 Cuevas, C.A., Sabina, C., & Picard, E.H. (2010). Interpersonal Victimization Patterns and Psychopathology Among Latino Women: Results from the SALAS Study, Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy, 2(4), doi: /a Dutton, M., Orloff, L., & Hass, G.A. (2000). Characteristics of help seeking behaviors, resources, and services needs of battered immigrant Latinas: Legal and policy Implications. Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy, 7(2), Reference 5 National Latin@ Network. (2014). Prevalence and occurrence of intimate partner violence. Facts on intimate partner violence among Latin@s. Retrieved from: more/factsand statistics/prevalence and occurrence 6 Otiniano Verissimo, A.D., Grella, C.E., Amaro, H., & Gee, G.C. (2014). Discrimination and Substance Use Disorders Among Latinos: The Role of Gender, Nativity, and Ethnicity. American Journal Of Public Health, 104 (8), doi: /ajph Steps to Recovery. Understanding the Link between Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence. Retrieved from: the link betweensubstance abuse and domestic violence/ 7

8 Contact Information Jose Juan Lara Jr., M.S. Project Coordinator Web page: deesperanzamn casadeesperanza.org nationallatinonetwork.org Casa de Esperanza