The Intersection Between Partner Violence & Substance Abuse: Reports & Awareness

There has been a lot of chatter among our "friends" and "followers" about the connection between alcohol/substance use and domestic/intimate partner violence over the past couple of weeks.  Since February has been declared National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, I thought it important to highlight some of the research as well as some of the resources.

It seems, surprising or not, that there is a direct link between DV and substance use.  Does this mean substance abuse CAUSES domestic violence?  Is it the other way around?  Does this give abusers an "excuse" to abuse?  Please feel free to discuss (AND SHARE OTHER RESOURCES) here.

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month - http://www.teendvmonth.org/index.html

National Sexual Violence Resource Center -  http://www.nsvrc.org/

"Effect of co-occurring disorders and intimate partner violence on substance abuse treatment outcomes" J of Substance Abuse Treatment Volume 38, Issue 2, Pages 97-202 (March 2010)

"Does Alcohol Involvement Increase the Severity of Intimate Partner Violence?" (Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, Volume 34, Issue 2, February 2010)

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: DV and Substance Abuse - http://www.ncadv.org/files/SubstanceAbuse.pdf