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How can we help women get free from domestic violence when they are abusing drugs?

Our challenge as advocates is to provide as safe an environment as possible for all who use our services or work at our programs. A first step toward meeting this challenge is identifying options for both battered women impacted by substance use as well as for their advocates. In order to better extend services and advocacy to battered women with separate issues of substance use, misuse or addiction we must examine our current practices and explore new strategies. Agency policies supporting a substance-free environment will need to be balanced with a multi-step approach that provides opportunities for substance-abusing women to safely discuss their daily struggle with sobriety and their compulsion to use. This effort will help chemically dependent battered women achieve both justice and freedom from abusers who often use their addiction to gain or maintain power and control.

Some suggested policy considerations include:

  1. Being aware that domestic violence, drug overdose and withdrawal from substances can all be lethal, and that assessing the immediate risk of each is essential.
  2. Partnering with a local chemical dependency program and/or consulting with the statewide alcohol and drug help line to develop tools for identifying and assessing the needs of battered women impacted by substance abuse and their children.
  3. Developing a safety plan that includes a relapse prevention plan and continuing to support the client after a relapse if she chooses to continue to work on her recovery.
  4. Providing referrals to a range of chemical dependency assistance options, such as detox, out patient or inpatient treatment, Alcoholics Anonymous and/or other self-help meetings.
  5. Addressing the impact of substance abuse on safety planning.
  6. Providing written materials relevant to chemical dependency and substance abuse.
  7. Developing a budget plan to implement comprehensive support services to battered women impacted by substance abuse.
  8. Periodic training of staff.
  9. Monitoring of the program.

Overview a Multi-Step Approach


Getting Safe and Sober: Real Tools You Can Use ©Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault 2005