Domestic Abuse and Substance Abuse

In addition to a prior history of being abusive, heavy substance use is a major risk factor for domestic violence. Drug and alcohol use may affect both parties in cases of domestic and sexual abuse. An abuser may be violent because of substance use, and a victim may use substances to cope with the abuse.

Research has found that on days of heavy substance abuse, physical violence was 11 times more likely among the perpetrators and victims of domestic violence, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

And forty to sixty percent of domestic violence incidents involve substance abuse, according to a 2014 article published by the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

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