Violence Against Women and Drugs and Alcohol
Globally, up to six out of every ten women experience physical
and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. A World Health
Organization study of 24,000 women in 10 countries found that the
prevalence of physical and/or sexual violence by a partner varied
from 15 percent in urban Japan to 71 percent in rural Ethiopia,
with most areas being in the 30-60 percent range. http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/violence_against_women/
Women who experience any type of
sexual abuse in childhood abuse are roughly three times more likely
than non-abused women to report drug or alcohol dependence.
[Kendler, K.S., et al. (2000) "Childhood sexual abuse and adult
psychiatric and substance use disorders in women: An
epidemiological and co-twin control analysis". Archives of General
Psychiatry : 57(10) : 953-959]
A survey of 1061 people in London
revealed that 64% believed a rape victim should accept some
responsibility for being raped if they had drunk to excess or
blacked out. [[Wake Up to Rape Research Summary Report (2010)
prepared by Opinion Matters for the The Havens (Sexual Assault
Referral Centres)]
Participants in a mock jury
experiment perceived a victim who was sober at the time of the
incident as more credible than a victim who was intoxicated due to
substance use (alcohol or LSD), and convictions were also most
likely when the victim was sober. [Wenger, A., A. & Bornstein,
B., H (2006) The Effects of Victim's Substance Use and Relationship
Closeness on Mock Jurors' Judgments in an Acquaintance Rape Case,
Sex Roles, 54, 547-555]
Research conducted by Amnesty
International in 2005 found that 28% of people believe that a woman
is totally or partially responsible if she is drunk. [Sexual
Assault Research (2005) ICM on behalf of Amnesty International]
A UK study showed that 51% of
respondents from domestic violence agencies claimed that either
themselves or their partners had used drugs, alcohol and/or
prescribed medication in problematic ways in the last five years.
[Humphreys, C, Thiara, R.K. & Regan (2005) Domestic Violence ad
Substance Misuse, Overlapping Issues in Separate Services, Greater
London Authority and the Home Office]
Almost two thirds of survivors
drawn from domestic violence agencies in the same study showed that
they began their problematic substance use following their
experiences of domestic violence. [Humphreys, C. & Regan, L.,
2005. Domestic Violence and Substance Use: Overlapping Issues
in Separate Services, Final Report]
A UK study of 60 women using crack
cocaine found that 40% reported being regularly physically
assaulted by a current partner and 75% being physically assaulted
by a current or past partner. [Bury, C. et al (1999) An examination
of the needs of women cracker users with attention to the role of
domestic violence and housing, report for Lambeth, Southwark and
Lewisham Health Authority in collaboration with the National
Addiction Centre and Brixton Drug Project]
A study of 66 female opiate users
reports that all women were living in a state of poverty with only
6 % in paid employment, whilst one third reported criminal activity
as their main financial support during the month prior to
interview. One third reported a violent partner. [Powis, B.,
Gossop, M., Bury, C,. Payne, K. and Griffiths, P. (2000)
'Drug-using mothers: social, psychological and substance use
problems of women opiate users with children.' Drug and Alcohol
Review 19, 171-180]]
One third of female drug users
(n=197) in a Scottish study had experienced sexual abuse. Of these
cases, just over half had been perpetrated by a relative or family
friend and one third by a partner. These women were more likely to
have developed a drug problem at an earlier age, experienced a drug
overdose, to have attempted suicide and to have self harmed.
[McKeganey, N., Neale, J. and Robertson, M. (2005) Physical and
sexual abuse among drug users contacting drug treatment services in
Scotland, Drugs: education, prevention and policy, 12(3)]
A US study reports that 60% of
women accessing drug or alcohol services (n = 360) reported current
or past domestic abuse. [Swan, S., Farber, S. and Campbell, D.,
2001. Violence in the Lives of Women in Substance abuse
Treatment: Service and Policy Implications, Report to the New
York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence,
Rensselear, New York]
A study of 96 cases of domestic
violence revealed that alcohol was involved in 88% of cases
involving dual perpetration of violence and 55% of sole perpetrator
cases. There was a significantly higher likelihood of the
assumed perpetrator being arrested if alcohol was also an issue.
[Hester, M. (2009) Who Does What to Whom? Gender and Domestic
Violence Perpetrators, Bristol: University of Bristol in
association with Northern Rock]
Findings from a review of the
British Crime Surveys revealed that 44% of domestic violence
offenders were under the influence of alcohol and 12% affected by
drugs when they committed acts of physical violence. [Budd, T.,
2003. Alcohol Related Assault: Findings from the British Crime
Survey, Home Office Online Report 35/03]
A number of studies have found that
the perpetrators use of alcohol, particularly heavy drinking, was
likely to result in more serious injury to their partners than if
they had been sober. [Brecklin, L., 2002. The role of perpetrator
alcohol use in the injury outcomes of intimate assaults,
Journal of Family Violence, 17 (3), 185-196]
A small scale study in the UK
showed that all of the women interviewed about the role of alcohol
in their partner's abuse had also experienced violence and abuse
from their partner when he had not been drinking.[Galvani, S., 2004
Responsible Disinhibition: Alcohol, Men and Violence To Women,
Addiction, Research and Theory, 12 (4), 357-371]
Reducing substance use (including
alcohol) may reduce levels of physical injury but has not been
shown to reduce the actual occurrence of domestic violence (i.e.
non physical abuse such as psychological and sexual violence).
[Jacobs, J., 1998. The Links Between Substance Misuse and
Domestic Violence. London: Alcohol Concern]
