Medication Discussion: Exploring Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse

This report delves into the intertwined issues of domestic violence and substance abuse, exploring their prevalence, societal impact, and ethical considerations. The report highlights the strong correlation between the two, noting that individuals experiencing domestic violence are significantly more likely to engage in substance abuse, and vice versa. It examines the scope of the problem, emphasizing the various forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, and economic. The report also addresses the unique issues related to affected populations and the ethical standards healthcare professionals must adhere to when treating these complex cases. Furthermore, it discusses treatment and prevention strategies, advocating for concomitant approaches that prioritize client safety and employ gender-specific treatment models. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding the connection between domestic violence and substance abuse to enhance care for affected individuals, families, and communities.

Running head: MEDICATION DISCUSSION 1
Medication Discussion
Name
Institution

MEDICATION DISCUSSION 2
Domestic Violence as well as Substance Use
Introduction
Domestic violence refers to any kind of sexual, emotional or physical abuse penetrated by
one person to another person, in a current or past close relationship (Choudhry & Herring, 2017)
Similar, domestic violence means abuse towards elderly as well as children in the family. This
issue remains covered by various platforms, but potentially it affects ten percent to fifteen
percent of females in US. Prevalence reports differ largely, depending on methodology as well as
definitions. On the other hand, substance abuse is the harmful consumption of dangerous
substances such as alcohol as well as illicit drugs. The consumption of psychoactive may result
in dependence syndrome such as behavioral, cognitive, as well as physiological that develop
after recurrent use of harmful products and normally comprises of difficulties in controlling the
use of drugs as well as a strong desire to consume the drug. The purpose of this paper is to
discuss issues that deal with violence and substance abuse.
Scope of the Problem
It is essential to look at the impact of domestic violence as well as its connection to
substance use. Recent research findings linked to domestic violence as well as substance abuse
an approximate of 55% of individuals who commit domestic abuse were on substance abuse
(Childress, Gioia & Campbell, 2018). The research also indicates that substance abuse is linked
to domestic violence in a much stronger way. This clearly shows that when an individual is
inebriated from alcohol or drug, they remain likely to commit violence. In addition, women who
encounter domestic violence remain up to fifteen times more likely to engage in substance abuse
such as alcohol abuse. The prominent role that substance abuse plays in cases of domestic
violence indicates how closely these 2 conditions remain related. The key to acquiring freedom
from both substance abuse and domestic violence remains to treat both conditions instead of just

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one. Many researchers argue that the children and female have been the victims of household or
family violence in many cultures as well as societies. The consumption of alcohol, tobacco as
well as narcotic drugs remain responsible in stimulating the violence. Incidence of domestic
violence remains considerably higher in substance abuser as compared to others (Bloom &
Tavrow, 2018). It remains equally present in nations where status of females remains high. In our
society, domestic violence especially among pregnant women poses health care challenges such
as increased perinatal substance use, reduced birth weight, poor prenatal care, and increased
likelihood of premature labor. Therefore, this shows that the family remains the major source of
attachment, nurturing, as well as socialization for humans in our present society (Armstrong,
Glover & Bennett, 2019). So, the impact of SUDs on individual family members and family in
general merits attention. Every family as well as individual family member remains exclusively
affected by a person using substances. The diagnosis of substance abuse normally needs a
thorough evaluation as well as often includes an assessment mainly by a psychologist. Urine,
blood or other essential lap test are often used to access the use of drug. The main features shared
by abusers are less educated as compared to abused partner, have a very low self-esteem, are
emotionally reliant on the partner, and they need great amount of attention.
Impact of Domestic Violence as well as Substance Abuse Society
It is true that domestic violence as well as substance abuse is extremely prevalent in most
of the societies. In US, it remains approximated that more than three million women remain
victims of domestic violence each year. Therefore, It is important to study this issue to enable us
reduce the problems caused by it in our society. Substance abuse affects as well as costs the
family, individual, as well as the society in substantial, measurable ways including employability
and loss of productivity; impairment in mental and physical health; increased crime; reduced

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quality of life; abuse as well as neglect of kids. The mental and physical health as well as social
consequences of alcohol as well as other drug consumed by women may seriously affect their
lives as well as those of their family members. Generally, when the issue of domestic violence
remains discussed, one may only think of physical abuse. Nevertheless, there are numerous kinds
of abuse that fall under this domestic violence. The main areas of concern with regard to
domestic violence in our society are physical abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse, emotional
abuse, and psychological abuse.
Unique Issues Related To the Population
There are many ethical standards created to offer guidance to help the health sector in
handling the patients affected by both domestic violence as well as substance abuse. These
ethical standards prevent client exploitation as well as impairment of therapists’ judgement. The
health care professionals must create confidentiality. Discussing the issues that relate to
victimization must take place in private. This is because a victim of domestic abuse shall not
typically disclose the truth in the present of his perpetrator and other family members. There has
been debate over the relative significance of culture, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status as risk
factors for encountering domestic violence and substance abuse. There remains agreement that
culture and ethnicity are important influences the way the victims respond to the event.
Treatment and prevention
Cases of this domestic violence as well as substance used need concomitant approaches
to managing the two conditions. Experts should first make sure the safety of their clients by
providing vital information on how to find the shelters as well police that are available in the
society. Treatment options available for substance abuse and domestic violence may be provided
at this point, including advocacy groups and mutual help. Follow up visit remain recommend. It

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is essential to keep in mind that that both domestic violence as well as substance abuse are
chronic and can worsen; the process of change is length by nature. Direct confrontation of the
batterer ought to be done, as this approach can increase anger as well as attacks towards the
person affected by the act. It is true that the period following an attack is a suitable time to break
the cycle by offering referral for aid assist for the dependent violent or the substance-abusing
partner. At this point, a referral for treatment and evaluation may be more appropriate. As
discussed, the best reasonable approach to treat people affected by this issue is to train substance
abuse treatment programs to accurately identify and access incoming clients to domestic violence
intervention programs. It is true that the best model for treating patients affected by this issue in
the community remains is known as Gender specific treatment. Therefore, victims of domestic
violence ought to be referred to support groups and gender-specific treatment. Treatment
programs which include harm reduction strategies as well as a trauma sensitive environment
remain specifically suited to victims of domestic violence. Experts should try to avoid using
language that suggests there remains something wrong with the victim. For instance, they should
avoid using words like codependency, powerlessness, and enabling. These words are often
inappropriate when applied to victims of domestic violence especially when applied to women.
In conclusion, A good understanding of domestic violence as well as its connection with
substance abuse can enable us enhance the care of affected clients. The issue of domestic
violence as well as substance use not only affect clients, but also children, partners and the
elderly.

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References
Armstrong, E. M., Glover Reed, B., & Bennett, L. W. (2019). How and how much: combined
services for domestic violence and substance abuse. Violence against women, 25(12),
1450-1470.
Bloom, B. E., & Tavrow, P. (2018). Are Primary Care Clinicians Serving Low-Income Patients
More Likely to Screen for Domestic Violence?. journal of community and preventive
medicine, 1(2), 1-8.
Childress, S., Gioia, D., & Campbell, J. C. (2018). Women’s strategies for coping with the
impacts of domestic violence in Kyrgyzstan: A grounded theory study. Social work in
health care, 57(3), 164-189.
Choudhry, S., & Herring, J. (2017). Righting domestic violence. In Marital Rights (pp. 71-96).
Routledge.

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