Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug & other Addiction Services
Airport Executive Plaza
1321 Murfreesboro Pike Suite 155
Nashville, TN 37217
Phone: 615-780-5901 mail@taadas.org
Things You Need To Know |
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Every 15 seconds a woman is battered in the United States by her
husband, boyfriend, or live-in-partner. Domestic Violence is the
leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 to 44, more common
than automobile accidents, muggings and rapes combined according to
findings by the former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. Other
research has found that half of all women will experience some form of
violence from their partners during marriage, and that one-third are
battered repeatedly every year. Although official estimates of
domestic violence rely largely on FBI, police and emergency reports, many
women also report domestic violence to friends, relatives, churches,
synagogues, physicians and nurses. These sources of information are
not included in national crime surveys. In addition, most reports do
not show the number of violent incidents experienced by battered women and
their children. Hence statistics do not accurately reflect the
amount of violence experienced in intimate relations and in the home. Have you or someone you know ever experienced the following by a boy friend,
husband or intimate partner? Ø Name-calling or put-downs Ø Isolation from family or friends Ø Withholding money Ø Actual of threatened physical harm Ø Sexual assaults These are examples of domestic violence, which includes partner violence,
family violence, spouse abuse, battering, and wife beating. This violence
takes many forms, and can happen once in a while or all the time. Although
each situation is different, there are common warning signs or “red flag”
behaviors to look for. Although the wife, girlfriend or lover is the
primary target, violence is often directed toward children as well, and
sometimes toward family members, friends, and even bystanders in attempts to
control their partner. Approximately 95 percent of the victims of domestic
violence are women. However, violence also happens in gay and lesbian
relationships, and, in a small number of cases, by women against men. |
Substance Abuse and Domestic Violent men are more likely to abuse alcohol than nonviolent men.
Estimates of alcohol and drug abuse by violent men ranges form 52 to 85%--
rates three times those of nonviolent men. The victim, as well as
the abuser, may be drinking at the time of an incident. One effect
of battering is higher rates of drinking among victims seeking to cope
with depression, fear, and stress. Studies of domestic violence
criminal cases find incidents involving drugs and alcohol are more, not
less, likely to be prosecuted than cases that do not involve alcohol or
drug use. Drinking is linked to violence in complex ways: à Chronic alcohol abuse
creates stress in the family. à Heavy drinking can
disinhibit control of behavior. Research on the links between alcohol abuse and violence finds that:
Myths about Alcohol and Abuse: 1. All the bad behaviors exhibited by alcoholics result from
their drinking problem. Not True. Battering is a separate problem. 2. Alcoholics who drink are not in control of their
behavior. Not True. It has been demonstrated that batterers who abuse
alcohol can decide when and how to hit their wives. Revised 9/00 Source: U.S.DHHS |
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Violence:
TAADAS Meetings are held the 2nd Thursday each month 1 PM - 3 PM at the TAADAS office building 2nd floor.