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How Prevalent is
Domestic Violence?
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.
Domestic
Violence Defined:
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.
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Substance
Abuse and Domestic
Violence:
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:
- Drinking proceeds acts of family violence in 25 to 50% of all cases
of domestic violence.
- Substance abusers are violent more frequently and inflict more
serious injuries. They
are more likely to attack partners sexually, and are more likely to be
violent outside the home than non-substance abusers.
- Alcohol and drug abuse increase the likelihood of domestic
violence; not only during periods of intoxication, but also during
periods of sobriety.
- Highest rates of abuse are found in moderate to heavy drinkers (not
heaviest drinkers). Chronic
use of alcohol is a better predicator of battering than acute
intoxication.
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.
To
find out more about domestic violence and/or alcohol and drug abuse
contact
TAADAS
Clearinghouse
615.780.5901 or
TN REDLINE
at 1.800.889.7989.
1800 Church Street, Suite 100
Nashville, TN
37203.
email mail@taadas.org.
The Clearinghouse is funded by the TN Department of Health.
Revised
9/00
Source:
U.S.DHHS
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