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Substance Abuse and Women Abuse: A Proposal for Integrated Treatment

NCJ Number
201334
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 67 Issue: 1 Dated: June 2003 Pages: 52-57
Author(s)
Susan G. Bednar
Editor(s)
Ellen Wilson Fielding
Date Published
June 2003
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article briefly explores the relationship between substance abuse and woman abuse and examines these problems together in an integrated treatment program.
Abstract
Substance abuse and abuse of women frequently occur together, yet the relationship between the two problems presents itself as complex with each commonly addressed separately. This paper explores the relationship between substance abuse and woman abuse, along with the potential to address these problems together in an integrated treatment program. There are at least four popular theories that attempt to explain the relationship between substance abuse and violence. Substance abuse and woman abuse share certain characteristics and risk factors with the combination of the two putting women and children in danger. By providing integrated treatment for substance abusing batterers, the risk to victims can be immediately lowered. It is important to build from the knowledge already possessed. The goal of a pilot integrated treatment program for substance-abusing batterers would be to decrease violence towards women by improving the response time, completion rates, and effectiveness of substance abuse and domestic abuse services offered to substance-abusing batterers. References