NCJ Number
204552
Date Published
September 2005
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This video discusses the relationship between substance abuse and victimization and explores the types of assistance available to victims with substance abuse problems.
Abstract
Experiences of criminal victimization can often be traumatic for individuals, who may eventually turn to substance abuse in the absence of other supports such as counseling. Post-victimization factors that may cause crime victims to turn to substance abuse are explored and include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and stress caused by navigating the criminal justice system. Symptoms of PTSD are reviewed, as well as the factors that may affect the health and social relationships of those suffering from PTSD, which includes problems with interpersonal relationships and problems in the work force. Techniques for assisting victims with substance abuse problems are presented and are aimed primarily at victim service providers. Behaviors that could signal victims are suffering from substance abuse problems are reviewed and the importance of working collaborations with substance abuse treatment services in the community is underscored. Substance abuse may also predispose individuals to criminal victimization; statistics are presented that show that many victims of violence are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of the offense, as are many offenders. The factors correlated with substance abuse and increased risk of criminal victimization are reviewed, including increased vulnerability and poor judgment. Victims who were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of their victimization face an array of deleterious outcomes, such as being viewed as less credible by law enforcement officers and placing blame on themselves for their own victimization. The video is accompanied by a discussion guide that offers an outline of the video as well as a series of discussion questions. A listing of additional resources is presented.