Domestic violence and substance use: overlapping issues in separate services?

Abstract

The links between substance use and domestic violence are increasinglybeing noticed by services providing help to people with drug and alcoholproblems or to those affected by domestic violence. Questions are beingraised about the extent of overlap between substance use and domesticviolence, and the ways in which the dual issues of substance use anddomestic violence can be addressed through more holistic approachesto intervention.This briefing summarises findings from a one-year research project, jointlyfunded by the Home Office and the Greater London Authority (GLA),which aimed to:1. identify strategies for improving practice and policy by building upongood practice in both substance misuse and domestic violence sectors; 2. explore the overlap between domestic violence and substance use bymen and women who are accessing services in the sectors - includingsurvivors and perpetrators of abuse; 3. ascertain service user experiences of help-seeking and service provision.The research consisted of:1. semi-structured interviews with 48 ‘key informants’ to identifyproblems and directions for progressive practice. Key informantsincluded service providers and policy makers in both the domesticviolence and substance use sectors;2. questionnaires of those using substance use and domestic violenceservices. The questionnaires were distributed by 13 agencies’ thatcarried out an assessment of services users;3. interviews with 19 service users from four women’s refuges, fourdomestic violence advice and advocacy services, four substance useagencies and two perpetrator programmes.