Alcohol and drug abuse as factors in domestic violence against women

Alcohol, Drugs, And Domestic Violence

Family violence - or male aggression against women in a relationship setting - also known as domestic violence (DV) is most certainly a devastating social and moral problem in our society; but it is also a serious police problem, and an expensive health problem. In fact, the annual health care cost associated with the manifestations of DV is estimated to run as high as $857 million in the United States (Rodiguez, et al., 2001). But moreover, DV takes a toll on American families that is much greater than any dollar amount could ever reflect - and, in addition, DV is a social blemish on the face of America that seems to be getting worse, not better. The "causes" of violence in the family - why men act aggressively against their wives and girlfriends and even their children - are varied and complicated; but in too many cases, the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs is factored into the equation. And while there is a dearth of empirical, clinical research directly linking alcohol's chemical influence on the brain - alcohol is of course a drug - to male aggression against women, there exists a plethora of circumstantial evidence making that specific connection.

Introduction / Thesis

This paper will examine the question of violence and drugs / alcohol in depth: indeed, what factual research is presently available surrounding the issue of alcohol and its connection to male aggression towards women and families? Why are alcohol and drugs a pivotal part of that brutal phenomenon? The paper will also provide research into the question: are there emerging remedies and solutions for DV? What can be done? Clearly, there has, as yet, been no "cure-all" program or solution devised to keep the abuse of alcohol and drugs - and violence against women - in check, but this salient question will be addressed: are there steps families can take to avoid become statistics in the ongoing scourge of booze, drugs, and violence in the family? And what about victims - are their plans and programs to care for their needs, and/or prevent recurrences of assaults upon them? America prides itself on being a nation of laws - but is the U.S. popular culture too steeped in aggression as entertainment - and alcohol as a cool, manly thing to do - to expect a reduction in domestic cruelty to women?

Present realities and statistics

Meanwhile, a recent article in the journal, Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly (March, 2003), cites some stark statistics on alcohol and its connection to the ongoing scourge of family violence. "According to the February issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology...the odds of any male-to-female aggression were eight times higher on days when the men drank alcohol..." The story went on to report that the odds of "severe aggression" (e.g. where injuries requiring medical attention occur) were 11 times higher on days when men drank some alcohol. And on days when men drank "six or more drinks" the odds jumped to more than "18 times higher for any male-to-female aggression," and more than 19 times higher for "severe aggression." The study was conducted by the State University of New York, at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions. The research incorporated the daily diaries and calendars of 137 men who had been in a domestic violence treatment center, and of 135 "domestically violent men" who had entered a treatment program for alcohol abuse.

Alluding again to the data from the recent research project, published in The Western Journal of Medicine (Rodriguez, 2001), the article reports that 16% of American families have experienced at least one "incidence of marital aggression" per year. And, the study - using data compiled by the respected National Survey of Families and Households and by the National Violence Survey - found that two to four million women a year are physically battered by "their intimate partners," and that 12% of all homicides "are the result of intrafamilial violence."

Domestic violence, when it includes not the just the drug alcohol, but other mind- altering drugs, can be extremely vicious. The National Institute of Justice (Brookoff, 1997) conducted a survey in Memphis, Tennessee, funded by the Methodist Hospital Foundation, which revealed that of the men charged with assault of their spouse or intimate partner in the year 1995, "two-thirds had used a dangerous combination of cocaine and alcohol that day" - and two-thirds of the assailants were "on probation or parole" at the time of the crime. On average, Memphis police responded to more than 15 DV calls per 7-hour shift; 72% of the victims were female, and 78% of assailants were male. Ninety-two percent of the assailants had used drugs or alcohol that day; nearly one half of assailants had been using drugs, alcohol, or both, daily, for the past month prior to the assault, according to the families involved.

What does alcohol actually do to the individual and to the brain?

There a numerous theories about the relationship between alcohol and violence, and why alcohol always seems to be present when violence has been visited upon the innocent wife or girlfriend. Some researchers believe that alcohol has "a direct and causal relationship to violence because its psycho physiological properties release violent impulses, tendencies, and inhibitions" (Collins, 1981). But Collins, on the same page (262), sites other research which shows "while drinking varies according to the situational context...this behavior is learned." Other studies cited by Collins view alcohol use and violence as symptoms "of a pathological condition" displayed by the "socially maladjusted personality." Still other studies reported by Collins link alcoholism and DV in various statistical, social, and psychological correlations, but none of them explain what alcohol actually does to the brain, to cause men, even normally peaceful men, to apparently lose control and attack their women.

Meanwhile, in the continuing search to learn how alcohol tweaks the brain, a researcher named, ironically, Paul Brain (Brain, 1986), has edited a book jammed with exhaustive and esoteric scientific experiments - searching for clues to the mysteries of "alcohol and aggression" - on human cells, on fish, amphibians, birds, rodents, cats, and monkeys. The results of those inquiries, while not easy for the lay person to understand, have shown some interesting phenomena; albeit, as researchers Michael S. Berry and Robert Smoothy report (Brain, 1986, p. 84), there are problems associated with these investigations. "Animal studies, with their reduced methodological and ethical problems, might be expected to provide a clearer picture of the association between alcohol and aggression," since animals have less complicated nervous systems then do human beings, they write. However, they conclude, animal studies "Have failed...to produce the anticipated clear-cut results." Why? The list of possible variables which may have been miscalculated is lengthy. But their research does show that when Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), when a low concentration of alcohol is placed in their tank, did indeed show an "aggressive response" in a rather bizarre experiment, beyond what they would normally show. As to the frog (amphibian) experiment, for the lay person, the results are problematical; to wit: "Since alcohol retards habituation of this visually elicited prey-catching response, the results may reflect an alcohol-induced disinhibition within the visuomotor mechanism (probably the optic tectum)" (Brain, p. 90). And as for alcohol and aggression in birds, the language is clearer: the studies "allow no general conclusions to be drawn" (Brain, p. 93).

Victim treatment, possible solutions and remedies

There are a multiplicity of programs and services for the victims of DV - which are, in an overwhelming number of cases, women - and for the assailants, as well. In Memphis (Brookoff, 1997), for example, a small crisis center has been built within the police department; victims are brought to the center and automatically referred to counseling and support services. Fees for obtaining an arrest warrant have been waived, and assault victims may now swear out arrest warrants at the scene of the violence, to try to get the aggressors off the street. And prosecutors, at arraignment, can and do order rehabilitation for drug and alcohol problems for assailants.

Another program which has shown success is court-mandated "batterers' treatment" (Roberts, 2002), which involves immediate clinical intervention for alcohol and drug issue, and psychological therapy. In a 3-year study of over 800 men - from Dallas, Denver, Pittsburgh and Houston - over two-thirds of the men did not re-assault their female partners for at least one year after entering the treatment program. While it seems unfair and even outrageous that these repeat offenders would be let back out on the street to get boozed up and return to their violent ways, courts are merely enforcing existing laws; and in any event, any progress is positive.

Sometimes, however, progress is elusive. In a Broward county, Florida, study, comparing 404 men who were ordered by the court into batterers' programs with men who were simply incarcerated (Roberts, 2002), "They found no difference in attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding domestic violence."

Meantime, in addition to programs and solutions, a change in American attitudes towards DV is badly needed (Klein, et al., 1997) prior to any real change taking place. "...The vast majority of Americans hold covert attitudes that condone battering," Klein asserts (p. 89). This national attitude helps "create an environment in which inaction is the norm... [and this attitude is verified] by the November, 1995 Lieberman poll [which found that] almost half of the American public (46%) currently believes that men sometimes physically abuse women because they [men] are stressed out or drunk, not because they intend to hurt [women]." With this as a backdrop, Klein's editorial thrust is towards heavy-media spots run in a major market national public education campaign.

Meanwhile, others believe prevention of DV begins with health promotion activities to "reduce alcohol [and drug] consumption" (Jewkes, 2002). Also on the Jewkes' agenda: reducing the use of, and acceptance of violence, through parenting programs; legislation banning corporal punishment; empowering women and improving their status in society; among others.

Finally, in Sweden, a national anti-violence, alcohol-intervention campaign is underway which well could prove to be successful in the U.S. (Wallin, et al., 2003). Since "convincing evidence for the association between alcohol and aggression has been presented in the scientific literature... [and] the risk for aggressive behavior seems to increase with the level of intoxication," Wallin writes, Sweden has instituted a community mobilization program against violent crimes. It entails training in "responsible beverage service" for bartenders, enforcement of existing alcohol laws in bars, promotional posters in beverage retail stores, and a massive media campaign. Results show that between January 1994 and September 2000, violent crimes (including those against women) related to alcohol, decreased by 29% in the intervention area.

Conclusion

The problem of domestic violence - which has at its roots the abuse of alcohol and drugs - is not new, is not easy to grasp, and won't go away any time soon. Of all the solutions suggested, many of which are excellent, the two that would appear to make sense are public education about violence and alcohol abuse through television, radio, Internet and newspaper advertising, and the Swedish intervention project. However, besides the fact that the first suggestion been done already, this society is drenched in bloodshed and booze, from sea to shining sea. And with the clout the beer companies currently exhibit - watch ESPN, or any NFL, NBA, or MLB game for half an hour, and you'll witness several slick commercials aimed at young people - trying to prevent the abuse of alcohol is like trying to dam the Columbia River. But perhaps, with U.S. national political leadership stepping up to the plate, a campaign to strengthen families - matched with solid education and enforcement of existing laws - could be an effective starting point.