XXXXXXXXXXTheories and Approaches to IR
SPS303 1)Family and domestic violence & the co-occu
ence of substance abuse and mental health
2)Coercive control
Week 5
Liana Papoutsis
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE
When combined with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, domestic abuse can quickly escalate into a dangerous situation that is hard to get away from.
All types of domestic violence originate from one person’s desire for control over another. Addiction and substance abuse is linked to domestic violence in a strong way. When someone is ine
iated from drugs or alcohol, they are likely to lose control of their inhibitions. Being under the influence of any substance greatly increases the chances of abusive behaviour.
Nearly 80% of domestic violence crimes are related to the use of drugs.
https:
www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/domestic-violence
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE
When a person abuses drugs, the chemicals in their
ain are rewired to seek out the substance. This can result in i
ational, violent or controlling behaviour within a relationship.
Addiction and abuse tend to worsen over time
Both conditions involve denial or shame
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Addiction and domestic violence share a number of characteristics, such as:
A loss of control
Behaviour continues even though it leads to negative consequences
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE
The risk of domestic violence increases when a substance abuse disorder is present.
It may become difficult, if under the influence, for the victim to determine how much danger they are actually in.
Domestic abuse becomes a vicious cycle, as the abuse victim may be unwilling to report the attack for fear that their partner will physically, emotionally or financially retaliate.
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Alcohol
Alcohol is a legal controlled substance that slows down the body’s vital functions when consumed in excess. Its many forms include beer, wine and liquor.
Typically, drinking alcohol in moderation does not signify a problem. However, consuming more than four alcoholic beverages per day for men – or more than three per day for women – can indicate an alcohol use disorder (AUD).
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ALCOHOL & FDV
Alcohol consumption, especially at harmful and hazardous levels is a major contributor to the occurrence of intimate partner violence and links between the two are manifold.
Harmful use is defined as a pattern of alcohol use that causes damage to health. Hazardous use is defined as a pattern of alcohol use that increases the risk of harmful consequences for the use
Source: WHO
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LINKS BETWEEN ALCOHOL & FDV
Evidence suggests that alcohol use increases the occu
ence and severity of domestic violence
Alcohol use directly affects cognitive and physical function, reducing self-control and leaving individuals less capable of negotiating a non-violent resolution to conflicts within relationships
Source: WHO
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ALCOHOL & FDV
Excessive drinking by one partner can exace
ate financial difficulties, childcare problems, infidelity or other family stressors.
Individual and societal beliefs that alcohol causes aggression can encourage violent behaviour after drinking and the use of alcohol as an excuse for violent behaviour
Experiencing violence within a relationship can lead to alcohol consumption as a method of coping or self-medicating
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ALCOHOL & FDV HOMICIDE
In Australia, 36% of intimate partner homicide offenders were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident
Alcohol is estimated to be involved in up to half of partner violence in Australia and 73% of partner physical assaults Source: Taft, A & I Wilson, T XXXXXXXXXXAlcohol’s role in domestic violence
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VIDEO: ALCOHOL & FDV
https:
youtu.be/jNT1dUt1MqQ
Alcohol increases the 'prevalence and severity' of domestic violence- NSW
30 May 2020
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DRUGS USE & FDV
Drug use has been shown to interact in complex ways with the occu
ence and prevalence of family and domestic violence (FDV), with illicit drug use being associated with an increased risk for FDV
Alcohol and other drug use is associated with higher rates of FDV, increased severity of FDV, and increased likelihood of FDV associated with
sexual assault Source: Coomber et. Al (2019)
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ABUSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Benzodiazepines, or benzos, include pharmaceutical drugs used to treat a wide a
ay of mental disorders, including severe anxiety and panic attacks. People can build a tolerance to benzos if they are consumed for an extended period of time, which can lead to dependency.
Some people choose to take benzos with alcohol, which strengthens its effects and can lead to overdose. Withdrawal from benzos can include dangerous symptoms. EG. valium
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Study of drugs & FDV- Australia (Coomber et. Al)
Regarding illicit drug use, depressants used included cannabis & opioids (79.1% of cases)
Stimulants such as methamphetamines, MDMA (20.9% of cases)
Those who reported having used illicit drugs over the previous 12 months were over three times more likely to report having committing violence over the same period compared with non-drug users
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ILLICIT DRUGS
include powerfully addictive and illegal substances such as heroin and meth.
For example, marijuana’s short-term effects slow down the central nervous system and interfere with a person’s reaction time and concentration
In contrast, cocaine puts
ain functioning into hyper speed, resulting in increased alertness and anxiety.
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ILLICIT DRUGS
Even just a single use of some of these substances can spawn devastating patterns of abuse. Once a physical or psychological dependence is formed, using illicit drugs takes priority over everything else in a person’s life.
Examples:
Meth-A deadly and addictive substance, methamphetamine is a substance that can be made from easily obtained items, such as lithium batteries and drain cleaner. As a result, manufacturing meth is extremely dangerous. Continued abuse of meth can cause tooth decay and the appearance of accelerated aging.
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ILLICIT DRUGS
Heroin
One of the most addictive substances on earth, heroin is a synthetic derivative of morphine. Heroin comes as either a powder or a sticky gel, known as black tar heroin. Long-term abuse of heroin can cause abscesses and scabs on the skin, in addition to psychological and internal damage.
Crack Cocaine
The more potent, freebase form of cocaine, crack cocaine is usually smoked through a short pipe that often causes blisters and burns on the mouth and hands. An addiction to crack cocaine can develop in as little as one use.
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VIDEO
https:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Lmk9H54oc
The Connection Between Domestic Violence and Drug Abuse
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MENTAL HEALTH & FDV
Domestic and family violence can have a significant negative impact on the mental health of the victims, or other family members who witness it.
Constantly feeling unsafe in your own home or with the people who are supposed to love and care for you can lead to feeling afraid, unable to relax, powerless to change the situation, or ashamed to tell others.
It may result in long-term physical and psychological trauma, and affect sleep, appetite, concentration or other relationships.
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MENTAL HEALTH & FDV
Mental health intersects with DFV in complex ways.
Mental illness can be
ought on by DFV, can compound the effects of DFV, can act as a ba
ier to reporting or accessing support during or after DFV, or can be used as a tool against women by perpetrators of DFV.
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MENTAL HEALTH & FV/DV
Those who are the victims of domestic violence are more likely to struggle with a wide range of mental health disorders and require treatment in order to overcome the abuse.
Some of the most common among women are depression, eating disorders, anxiety & PTSD
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MENTAL HEALTH & FV/DV
In an effort to regain control over their lives and to drown out the pain and fear that comes with chronic violence and attack, many attempt to micromanage their eating choices, binge eat, or overindulge in alcohol or other substances.
In addition to substance abuse and eating disorders, other commonly diagnosed mental health disorders among domestic violence victims are depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
https:
futuresrecoveryhealthcare.com/knowledge-cente
dangers-domestic-violence-and-substance-abuse
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IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH OF VICTIM-SURVIVORS
Experiencing PTSD was about seven times higher for women who had been victims of domestic violence than those who had not.
The likelihood of developing depression was 2.7 times greater, anxiety four times greater, and drug and alcohol misuse six times greater.
The likelihood of having suicidal thoughts was 3.5 times greater for women who had experienced domestic violence than those who hadn’t (Trevillion et. Al, 2012)
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PRACTITIONERS
Practitioners need to be attuned to negative mental health impacts of FDV for victims in order to assist them
Need to address their psychological needs, as well as refer to specialised services to address their safety and other needs.
Practitioners need to be mindful of increasing levels of harm for victims
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POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
PTSD is a particular set of reactions that can develop in people who have been through a traumatic event which threatened their life or safety, or that of others around them. This could be a car or other serious accident, family violence, war or torture, or natural disasters. As a result, the person experiences feelings of intense fear, helplessness or ho
or.
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PTSD case study: FV Turkey
Method: Participants were 220 domestic violence survivors recruited consecutively from 12 shelters for women in Turkey (response rate 70%).
They were assessed with the Semi-Structured Interview for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Traumatic Stress Symptom Checklist, Depression Rating Scale, and Fear and Sense of Control Scale.
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PTSD & FV/DV
anticipatory fear due to a sense of ongoing threat to safety and sense of helplessness in life would be the strongest determinants of PTSD and depression in domestic violence survivors.
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PTSD case study continued…
Results: Survivors were exposed to 21 physical, psychological, and sexual violence stressors
They reported high levels of peritrauma perceived distress of and lack of control over stressor events. Approximately 10 months after trauma, many feared reliving the same domestic violence events, felt helpless, feared for their life, and felt in danger.
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PTSD CASE STUDY…
PTSD and depression rates were 48.2% and 32.7%, respectively. The strongest predictors of PTSD and depression were fear due to a sense of ongoing threat to safety and sense of helplessness in life, which explained the largest amount of variances in these psychiatric conditions.
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CASE STUDY CONCLUSION..
Conclusion: The findings support the contemporary learning theory of traumatic stress and are consistent with findings of studies involving earthquake, war, and torture survivors. They imply that trauma-focused interventions designed to overcome fear, reduce helplessness, and restore sense of control over one’s life would be effective in PTSD and depression in domestic violence survivors.
Salcioglu, E., Urhan, S., Pirinccioglu, T., & Aydin, S XXXXXXXXXXAnticipatory fear and helplessness predict PTSD and depression in domestic violence survivors. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 9(1), XXXXXXXXXX.
http:
dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000200
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PERPERTRATORS. MENTAL HEALTH & FDV
A common assumption is that FDV is caused by a perpetrator’s mental health condition, for example: bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), narcissistic personality, borderline personality or antisocial personality
While these are mental health conditions, they