Is Addiction to Blame for Violence Against Partners

Research published recently by the University of Michigan revealed an alarming fact, that 1 out of every 5 men in the United States admit to having been violent towards his partner at some point. The study was conducted with a population sample intended to be representative of the nation as a whole, casting the spotlight on a disturbing aspect of domestic relations in American society. It was released in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, using data gathered from 2001 to 2003 and made available in the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication, which involved survey responses from around 10,000 people nationwide.

This survey data was especially valuable to the researchers from the University of Michigan for the fact that it was based on surveys which included questions about domestic violence and the characteristics shared by men who perpetrate this type of abuse. A major goal of the study, beyond establishing the prevalence of domestic violence, was to ascertain what factors, if any the perpetrators have in common, in an effort to improve the ability to detect and prevent abuse and violence. It was found that insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome were two medical conditions common among domestic abusers, as well as a history of experiencing or witnessing violence in the home. Substance abuse was also discovered to be a major common factor among perpetrators of domestic violence.

New Study Sheds Light on Causes of Domestic Abuse

The University of Michigan study is valuable for the light that it sheds on causes and prevalence of domestic violence, but the news that substance abuse is a major factor in situations where such abuse takes place was already a well-established fact. For example, a report from the U.S. Department of Justice found that 61% of people arrested for domestic violence suffer from some type of substance abuse disorder, and 1994 numbers from the DOJ hold that greater than 50% of murders in domestic violence cases are perpetrated by people who were drinking alcohol at the time of the homicide.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence offers a comprehensive fact sheet on the subject, with information backed up by citations, that provides strong evidence of the link between drugs and alcohol, and domestic violence. The relationship includes the prevalence of substance abuse among the perpetrators as well as the victims of domestic violence. Not only does substance abuse make it more likely that a person will commit some type of domestic abuse, but those who suffer from domestic violence of some form are also more prone to start drinking or using drugs as a way to self-medicate the depression and trauma they suffer from. In many cases, both parties drink too much or use drugs, trapping each one in a cycle of abuse.

Domestic violence and substance abuse have a way of fueling one another and ensuring that both will be perpetuated. Whichever one came first in a given situation, a person who commits domestic abuse will often turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to escape from the shame and regret they feel over what they have done. The fact of being drunk or high will often make it more likely that the person will engage in further abuse, and then offers an excuse for why he or she is not actually responsible for the situation.

An effective rehab program has to take into account these mechanisms, with steps to get the person over the regret and guilt he or she feels over the past. This should also include training on how to better get along with other people and handle difficult situations so as to avoid conflicts in the future. The Narconon program does all of these things or more and is one of the most effective drug rehab programs available thanks to this fact.