Finding a Detox That Specializes in Supporting Domestic Violence Survivors

What, Exactly, Is Domestic Violence?

There’s actually a major lack of understanding as to what actually constitutes domestic violence. Many people assume that only physical harm can be considered domestic violence, but that’s not the case. By definition, domestic violence refers to physical or, the oftentimes overlooked, psychological abuse perpetrated by one person in a relationship or family unit to control the other(s). Specifically, there and many different acts that qualify as domestic violence, including name-calling, actual or threatened physical harm, stalking, intimidation, sexual assault, keeping someone isolated, either physically or emotionally, from their extra-familial relations, preventing someone from leaving the home, and withholding money.

Domestic Violence and Addiction

There is a heavy correlation between domestic violence and addiction. Both perpetrators and victims have high rates of substance use disorder or admit to abusing substances in the past year. It can also be very difficult for victims of domestic violence to seek help for their addiction. According to SAMHSA, more than 60% of women seeking drug or alcohol treatment claim their abuser tried to prevent them from going to treatment. Domestic violence and addiction are two complicated issues that often overlap.

Some statistics to help illustrate this fact include:

• 40-60% Of domestic violence incidents co-occur with substance abuse.
• More than 25% of women seeking domestic violence help admit to using substances.
• Over 20% of men who commit domestic violence admit to abusing drugs or alcohol.
• In the US, almost 20 people are abused by their partners every minute; about 10 million per year.
• According to the CDC, 1-4 women and 1-7 men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.

There are also many misconceptions about addiction which leads to stigmatization – creating hurdles to treatment. A common assumption is that those who are addicted are bad people. These stigmas not only make it difficult to fight the disease of addiction but also difficult to treat victims of domestic violence. With the current medical definition of addiction as a mental illness, it seems more helpful and productive to recognize that a person struggling with substance abuse as someone who is unwell.

This is this can be the case for both the victims and the perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse. Victims often turn to drugs or alcohol to “numb” their pain as a coping mechanism, so the stigma of addiction can sometimes minimize their status as a victim. This should, by no means, excuse the aggressor in cases of domestic violence, but paint a more nuanced picture and identify the areas where change can occur.

Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Children

The horrors of domestic violence extend to all members of a family unit, including the children. Children who witness domestic violence are at a heightened risk of future substance abuse. We often think of substance abuse in the home as consisting of one or both parents having an alcohol or drug problem, which directly and adversely affects their children. In fact, studies have shown there are profound effects of parental substance abuse on children, often causing severe emotional problems and intimacy issues that persist into adulthood while also making the children more likely to develop alcoholism or drug addictions themselves.

That being said, children can sometimes be the ones who are developing substance abuse problems independently of their parents. This can lead, subsequently, to the children being the perpetrators and instigators in domestic abuse scenarios. Adolescents and teens can develop substance abuse problems for many reasons. Perhaps there are problems in the household that lead them to use recreational substance abuse as a means of escaping these domestic problems. Additionally, many adolescents abuse alcohol or drugs so that they’ll fit in with their peers. And then there are many cases where substance abuse is merely a product of their curiosities.

Is There A Relationship Between Domestic Violence And Substance Abuse?

There’s extensive literature that explores the link between mental health, substance abuse, and violence. There’s also substantial evidence to suggest that people who become violent when under the influence have an elevated risk of suicide, which is the eleventh-leading cause of death in the United States. Moreover, violence and substance abuse must be more common than one would think.

Surveys have found that up to 75% of all people who receive treatment for substance abuse have had experiences involving violent behaviors while they were under the influence. There’s also a relationship with the level of violence displayed in behavior and the frequency of thoughts of suicide; individuals seeking substance abuse treatment who had committed prior offenses of rape and other severe, violent crimes reported experiencing far more frequent thoughts of suicide than individuals who committed less violent offenses.

What To Look For In a Detox Center for Victims of Domestic Violence

Drug detox centers that specialize in areas that affect victims of domestic violence are ready to help. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are several points to consider when choosing a detox center. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on women’s needs in detox centers. However, many of the programs we’ll cover would apply to men who are victims of domestic violence and are also seeing recovery.

• Gender-Specific Programs: Gender-specific programs are available for both men and women. For victims of domestic violence, gender-specific programs can provide a safe place where the foundations of trust, boundaries, and self-care are addressed. This can be of special importance to victims of sexual trauma.
• PTSD and Trauma Programs: While the clinical definition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and “trauma” may differ, the treatment approaches for them can overlap. There are detox centers that will offer specialty services and dedicated therapy programs to people who have suffered severe trauma.
• Programs for Mothers and Children: Women who face dual peril in substance abuse and domestic violence are often the primary caregivers for their children. There are detox and treatment facilities that offer programs including childcare services and therapy. Incorporating children into recovery can build a much stronger basis for recovery, and lead to family healing.
• Specialized Medical Care: Women who are pregnant, for example, will require much more intensive care. Medical detox centers that offer women’s health services will be in a much better position to handle detox in those situations. Some programs may offer testing for STDs, cancer screenings, and medical care specific to women.
• Group Therapy Programs: Many detox facilities will offer forms of therapy, but specifically for victims of domestic violence, group therapy can be a major focal point of healing and recovery – especially in gender-specific programs. Group therapy can be very effective because it combats the isolation that many who suffer from substance use disorders and domestic violence experience on a daily basis.
• Women’s Programs: Female survivors of domestic violence often face issues such as body image issues, eating disorders, intimacy problems, guilt, shame, and struggles with self-worth. Substance use only worsens these problems, and in many cases, the use of drugs and alcohol are intertwined with these issues. Women’s programs can treat the entire person, addressing addiction, detoxification, and other related disorders.
• Career Guidance, Skill-Building, and Independence Programs: Recovering from substance use disorder and domestic violence may seem like a daunting task for women who have limited professional experience or significant gaps in employment. Some facilities will offer programs and services that empower and upskill women, preparing them for a productive life in recovery.
• Community Advocates/Case Workers: When battling substance use disorder and domestic violence, having someone “in your corner” can help make the impossible, possible. Facilities that offer access to community services, women’s rights advocates, and social workers can offer women hope in their fight towards recovery.

Types Of Therapy

Detox can be so much more than just the act of removing drugs from the body. Detox facilities will offer a wide range of therapy options. There is no single way to treat substance use, and domestic violence can complicate treatment. Recovery can begin by approaching the underlying causes of addiction and the associated thoughts, patterns, and beliefs associated with addiction and domestic violence.

Some of the types of therapy you can expect in detox treatment facilities would include:

• Medical Treatment: Withdrawal can be painful, dangerous, and potentially deadly depending on the substance. Detox centers will have doctors and medical professionals on staff to diagnose and treat the medical side effects of detox and withdrawal. This would include medications specifically prescribed for withdrawal symptoms, and any associated mental illnesses.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: One of the most common – and effective – forms of talk therapy used today. CBT addresses risky and harmful thoughts and behaviors and seeks to correct them through cognitive reasoning. CBT is typically done 1 on 1 with a licensed therapist.
• Group Therapy: Group Therapy will allow people who share common afflictions, whether it is substance use disorder, domestic violence, or both, to work through their problems together. Where group therapy really shines is in building hope through connections with others.
• Educational Therapy: Education on risk reduction, resiliency, substance abuse and more will help spread positive and factual information. This can include relapse prevention and coping skills.
• Traumatic Incident Reduction: This is a form of therapy that is specifically designed to address the deep wounds of trauma. The basis of trauma incident reduction (TIR) is to face the trauma by reassessing the trauma in an objective way.

Additional Resources

It’s important to remember that you are not alone! Substance use disorder and domestic violence can make us feel alone, isolated, and helpless but there are people in this world who are ready and willing to help. Many advocates are themselves survivors and people in recovery. Here are some resources that may help you on your journey to recovery:

• A fellowship is available in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). AA has a deep network of gender-specific and co-ed groups. AA groups meet almost everywhere, and it’s free to join. AA’s sister program, Al-Anon, is also available for spouses, children, and family members of those struggling with addiction.
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7. This resource is completely free to use and offers help to survivors, families, and abusers.
• The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence brings together many resources to support survivors.
• The Office on Women’s Health provides state by state information on domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Domestic Shelters.org provides a comprehensive set of resources, guides, and inspiration for helping survivors find safe and stable places to live.
• Become an Advocate! Groups like Break The Silence on Domestic Violence make it easy to support survivors. Simply sharing your story can be an inspiration for someone to break the cycle of abuse.
• Know your rights! Women’s Law.org provides legal information on domestic violence and sexual assault.

It’s never too late to get help, and detox centers can be the beginning of a new future for victims of domestic violence and substance abuse. When substance use disorder coincides with domestic violence, it has the devastating power to negatively impact families and the community for generations. There are detox centers that can help break this cycle. Safely and effectively removing drugs from the body is the first step towards recovery, and remember; recovery is ALWAYS possible!