The Tragedy Of Alcohol And Domestic Abuse

Please Take a Moment…

If you suffer abuse from an intimate partner, please stop what you’re doing, and call The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). If you are Deaf or hard of hearing, you can still call using TTY 1-800-787-3224 or by video phone at 1-855-812-1001. There is someone available 24/7 every day of the year. They can help guide you out of a difficult situation, but you must make the first step yourself. You may also call if you are someone who commits abuse and doesn’t know how to stop.

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What Is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse, often referred to as domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV), is a pattern of behavior or behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner that they are in a relationship with. Anyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or age, can be a victim or perpetrator of domestic abuse. Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, mental, social and financial. Common tactics that an abusive partner uses to keep their victim in the cycle of an abusive relationship are:

  • Using coercion and threats (ie. threatening to kill themselves or their partner, hurt, or leave)
  • Using intimidation (ie. smashing things or displaying weapons)
  • Using emotional abuse (ie. humiliating, playing mind games, or name calling)
  • Using isolation (ie. controlling communication and time spent with others or using jealousy)
  • Minimizing, denying, and blaming (ie. making light of the abuse or blaming the victim)
  • Using children (ie. sending messages through children or threatening to take them)
  • Using gender privilege (ie. treating the victim like a servant)
  • Using economic abuse (ie. controlling money, preventing or interfering with the victims job)

How Alcohol Affects Domestic Abuse

To be perfectly clear, alcohol and alcoholism are never a sole trigger for, or cause of, domestic abuse. Rather, they are compounding factors that could eventually trigger intimate partner abuse in a violent individual. There is a misconception that when someone is an alcoholic who commits domestic abuse becomes sober they will no longer be abusive or violent. While reclaiming their sobriety can put a stop to regular abuse, that does not solve the core issue. Rather, it buries it under that person’s own shame and guilt but can still come out later in time. Only by fully confronting the underlying reasons for the abuse, can someone who abuses their partner be treated.

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Can Alcohol Trigger Domestic Abuse?

While there is much debate as to whether alcohol can be a lone trigger in domestic abuse, it cannot be denied that it is statistically more likely to be involved than it isn’t. Two-thirds of victims of spousal abuse report that the perpetrator had been drinking at the time of the incident(s). This doesn’t just apply to the U.S. Global studies show higher odds of domestic abuse if one or both partners are dependent on alcohol. However, despite these damning statistics, it has been determined that rather than alcohol causing people to abuse their partners, it is just an overlap of two separate social problems.

Alcohol And Domestic Abuse Statistics

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that roughly 55% of domestic abuse perpetrators were drinking alcohol prior to assault.
  • Women who are abused are 15 times more likely to abuse alcohol.
  • 68% of the delinquent youths in Oregon treatment programs had witnessed their mother’s abuse or been abused themselves.

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Finding Help For Alcohol And Domestic Abuse

If you are someone who is having issues with domestic abuse or intimate partner violence, and believe alcohol plays a role, getting treatment for alcoholism may be an advisable first course of action. From there, one can get the root of issues related to the need for power and control which led to a cycle of domestic violence and alcoholism. If you’re not sure where to turn, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline listed at the top of the page or contact a treatment provider for rehab-related help.

Get help for alcoholism today.

If you or a loved one is ready to overcome an alcohol addiction, reach out today. Treatment providers can connect you with programs that provide the tools to help you get and stay sober.

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