1. Select a discrete app icon.






notes
Some survivors turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with domestic violence and its aftereffects, such as fear, depression, difficulty sleeping and physical pain.
Some abusive partners push drugs and alcohol on victims as a way of controlling them and making it more difficult for them to break free.
And some physicians prescribe tranquilizers, sedatives and painkillers to survivors to help them cope with their abuse symptoms, unwittingly leading survivors to a substance use disorder.
Your support gives hope and help to victims of domestic violence every day.
However the patterns develop, survivors of intimate partner violence are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol than people who have not been victimized. And abusing alcohol or drugs can increase a survivor’s risk of danger in a number of ways—being under the influence can prevent a survivor from seeing just how much danger she or he is in, can make it more difficult to leave, or can impede the healing process.
After escaping abuse—or even while under the thumb of an abusive partner—many survivors with addictions wonder how they can get help with their recovery from both the intimate partner violence and substance abuse. The key is finding a provider who understands trauma and substance use disorders.
Many survivors wonder if their use of drugs or alcohol is “bad enough” to warrant separate attention. Slightly over 50 percent of people over the age of 12 in the U.S. drink alcohol, and many of these are moderate drinkers (defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men). However, at any time, one in ten people who drink has an alcohol use disorder—meaning they have difficulty controlling their alcohol use or experience social problems resulting from drinking. Social problems can include things like straining relationships, alienating friends and family or missing days at work or losing one’s job because of drinking.
According to The Recovery Village, a rehab center in Florida, there are 10 signs that indicate you might want to seek help with your drinking:
The criteria for diagnosing a drug use disorder is similar—the continued use causes problems and the person cannot stop using them.
A survivor who is unable to stop using drugs or alcohol is a survivor who needs treatment. Finding this treatment depends on a number of factors, including where a survivor lives, their financial situation or health insurance, and their time available.
Survivors might consider one of these treatment options:
Substance abuse and domestic abuse are like twin vines that squeeze and pull down survivors over time. Getting free of either one helps survivors address the other, so they can be free and flourish.
Lisa Aronson Fontes, PhD, Senior Lecturer, University of Massachusetts is the author of Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship.
Welcome, this is your discreet connection to help.
You are safe here.
Menstruation is an experience shared by
generations of women across the globe.
Sadly, abuse is another commonly shared experience between women.
Be it physical or psychological, abuse is not OK in any form.
Period.
You are not alone.
Help is just a few clicks away.
Welcome to DomesticShelters.org, a trusted Bright Sky US partner. On DomesticShelters.org, you will find free domestic violence resources such as:
The Bright Sky US website is still open on your browser in a separate tab, so you can return to the Bright Sky US website anytime.