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Family Violence and Substance Use
This edition of the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV) E-bulletin focuses on the connection between family violence and substance use, including the links between experiencing abuse and substance use, and the links between substance use and abusive behaviour.
The NCFV E-bulletin is a quarterly newsletter for those interested in family violence prevention. It is produced by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), on behalf of the Family Violence Initiative (FVI) of the Government of Canada.
We want to hear from you – please send your comments and feedback to our editor at: ncfv-cnivf@phac-aspc.gc.ca.
Interpersonal Violence and Substance Use
Interpersonal violence and harmful and hazardous alcohol use1 are major challenges to global public health, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There are strong connections between violence and alcohol. For example, the WHO policy briefing paper, Interpersonal violence and alcohol, indicates that:
- Harmful alcohol use is a risk factor for multiple types of interpersonal violence - child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, elder abuse and youth violence.
- Alcohol-related violence has far-reaching consequences on the health and well-being of victims, including physical injury and emotional harm (i.e. depression, anxiety and sleep problems). Longer-term effects can include suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Harmful alcohol use is often a method of coping with violent experiences.
- Children who witness violence between their parents are more likely to develop emotional and behavioural problems during childhood and heavy drinking patterns or alcohol dependence later in life, increasing their risk of becoming perpetrators of violence.
In the Canadian context, research shows that the use of alcohol plays a significant role in increasing the risk of spousal violence and homicide:
- According to the 2004 General Social Survey (GSS), 44% of women and 24% of men reported that their current or previous partner was drinking at the time of the violence.
- Data from the Homicide Survey reveals that between 1995 and 2004, the majority of persons accused of committing spousal homicide (62%) had consumed alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the incident.
Research also indicates that parental substance abuse increases the risk for child maltreatment:
- The 2003 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS) found that alcohol abuse was identified as a concern for almost one-third of male and one-fifth of female caregivers. Drug or solvent abuse was identified as a concern for 17% of male and 14% of female caregivers.
- The Quebec Incidence Study of Reported Chid Abuse, Neglect, Abandonment, and Serious Behavioural Problems found that almost one-half of all cases of child neglect involved excessive use of alcohol or illegal drugs.
1. Harmful use of alcohol is defined as a pattern of alcohol use that causes damage to health. Hazardous alcohol use is defined as a pattern of alcohol use that increases the risk of harmful consequences for the user (World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/terminology/who_lexicon/en/).
Up Against a Wall
Researchers from the University of Western Ontario, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada undertook an analysis of substance use rates among youth involved in child welfare versus the general population. Comparisons were based on two separate samples: youth participants in the Maltreatment and Adolescent Pathways (MAP) Longitudinal Study, and student participation in the Ontario Student Drug Use Survey (OSDUS).
The results reveal that youth involved in the child welfare system report higher use of cannabis and other illicit drugs. Female youth involved in child welfare system are especially at risk. This group reports greater cannabis and other drug use in their lifetime, as well as more frequent other drug use, than female youth in Ontario not involved in the child welfare system. The analysis also shows that all types of child maltreatment, except sexual abuse, are linked with substance use patterns in different ways.
Overall, this study demonstrates the need for early assessment, with a view to preventing substance use/abuse, especially among those involved in the child welfare system. Child welfare youth, particularily females, are an important sub-population of interest to public health educators and treatment providers as they are an at-risk group for substance use disorders. The study identifies a wide range of strategies and interventions for responding to this issue including: targeted drug education and prevention activities and multi-faceted treatment programs that address substance abuse and trauma backgrounds.
Results of this research, as well as implications for policy and practice, are presented in the recently released report, Up Against a Wall - Coping with Becoming a Teen When You Have Been Maltreated as a Child: A Comparison of the Maltreatment and Adolescent Pathway (MAP) Longitudinal Study and the Ontario Student Drug Use Survey (OSDUS) Datasets.
To order a copy of the report, visit the NCFV website or call 1-800-267-1291.
The NCFV offers resources on family violence, including overview papers, reports, discussion papers, handbooks and videos on family violence issues. To preview our recently released resources, please see our What's New page. NCFV publications are available free of charge, in hard copy or online, in English and French and in alternative formats upon request. To order, please visit our Web site or contact us.
New in the NCFV:
World Health Organization fact sheets on interpersonal violence and alcohol:
- Child Maltreatment and Alcohol - This fact sheet details the role of harmful alcohol consumption in child maltreatment, its lifelong impact on alcohol use patterns in people who are maltreated as children, and the role of public health in prevention.
- Elder Abuse and Alcohol - This fact sheet explores the links between alcohol and elder abuse and the role of public health in prevention.
- Intimate Partner Violence and Alcohol - This fact sheet details what is known about the role of alcohol in shaping the extent and impact of intimate partner violence, factors that increase the risk of becoming a victim or perpetrator, and the role of public health in prevention.
- Youth Violence and Alcohol - This fact sheet summarizes the role of alcohol and youth violence, the magnitude of the problem, risk factors for involvement in alcohol-related youth violence, prevention measures and the role of public health.
Elder Abuse: It’s Time to Face the Reality - This pamphlet outlines basic information on how seniors and Canadians can spot elder abuse as well as information on how to help stop it.
- Directory of Services for Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
The NCFV provides an extensive library reference collection, housed in the Health Canada Departmental Library. The following is a short-list of resources related to family violence and substance use. A full bibliographic search can be conducted online. Resources may be borrowed through an interlibrary loan through your local public, academic or institutional library:
Depression, substance abuse, and domestic violence: Little is known about co-currence and combined effects on low-income families
by Sharmila Lawrence, Michelle Chau, & Mary Clare Lennon
New York: Columbia University. National Center for Children in Poverty, 2004
Available: http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_546.html
Depression, substance abuse and domestic violence are risk factors which not only impair the ability to work but also affect parenting processes, which may impede appropriate child development and hinder child well-being. This synthesis summarizes recent research results on the effects of depression, substance abuse and domestic violence on families and their children.
Model Protocol for Working with Battered Women Impacted by Substance Abuse
by Lupita Patterson
Seattle: Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, February 2003
Available: http://www.wscadv.org/resourcesPublications.cfm?aId=E3F85CA9-C298-58F6-0B12861F3BAF89DC
This protocol is intended to help meet the safety needs of abused women, and provides options for abused women and children impacted by their own or another’s substance use, misuse or addiction.
Substance abuse and intimate partner violence: Treatment considerations
by Keith C. Klostermann
Published in Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 1:24 (2006)
Available: http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/1/1/24
Substance abuse treatment providers are increasingly faced with the challenge of addressing intimate partner violence (IPV) among their patients. This article discusses the options available and the need for providers to develop strategies for addressing IPV that can be incorporated and integrated into their interventions.
Substance abuse and child neglect: Intruders in the family (CECW information sheet 14)
by Micheline Mayer, Chantal Lavergne, & Rosanna Baraldi
Montreal : Université de Montréal and Institut pour le développement social des jeunes; Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, 2004
Available: http://www.cecw-cepb.ca/sites/default/files/publications/en/SubsAbuse14E.pdf
This information sheet discusses the relationship between child neglect and parental substance abuse. It also looks at other forms of hardships faced by families with substance abusing parents.
Substance Abuse Treatment and Domestic Violence [Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 25]
by Patricia Anne Fazzone, John Kingsley Holton, & Beth Glover Reed
Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Available: http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/bkd239/default.aspx
Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs) are best practice guidelines for the treatment of substance abuse. With a focus on intimate partner violence against women, this TIP provides an introduction to domestic violence. A blueprint for a more integrated system of care that would enhance treatment for both problems is also provided.
Key Dates
October 1, 2009 - International Day of Older Persons
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/idop/intro_e.htm
Events
September 9 to 11, 2009 - National Sexual Assault Conference, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=deb00805-69d5-415b-8f95-6f1b918aabf2
September 17 to 18, 2009 – 4th Milestones Meeting of Global Campaign for Violence Prevention, Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.who.int/entity/violence_injury_prevention/violence/global_campaign/newsletter/13/en/index.html
September 21 to 26, 2009 – 14th International Conference on Violence, Abuse & Trauma, San Diego, CA, USA
http://www.ivatcenters.org
September 29 to October 1, 2009 – Northern Approaches and Responses to Victims of Crime, Yellowknife, NWT
http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi-cpcv/cal/index.html
September 30 to October 2, 2009 - Responding to Crime Victims with Disabilities National Conference, Denver, Colorado, USA
http://www.nsvrc.org/projects/158/responding-crime-victims-disabilities-national-conference
October 8 to 10, 2009 – Fifth National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence, New Orleans, LA, USA
http://endabuse.org/content/features/detail/775/
October 22 to 23, 2009 – Ageing Safely Forum, "Working across sectors to prevent violence & abuse of older people", Adelaide, South Australia
http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/events_reports.html#Ageing
October 22 to 23, 2009 – Supporting Children Who Have Experienced Domestic and Family Violence, Perth, Australia
http://www.womenscouncil.com.au/getfile.aspx?Type=document&ID=358&ObjectType=3&ObjectID=331
October 27 to 29, 2009 – Wounded Souls and the Vulnerable Self -- Trauma and Addiction: Causes, Consequences and Treatment, Vancouver, BC
http://www.carbc.ca/Portals/0/Resources/091027WoundedSouls.pdf
October 28 to 30, 2009 – Victorian Offender Treatment Association (VOTA), Melbourne, Australia
http://www.vota.org.au/conference09/conference.html
November 9 to 10, 2009 – MMFC Research Day 2009 – The face of sexual violence in the 21st Century: Naming the unspoken, Fredericton, NB
http://www.unbf.ca/arts/CFVR/index.php
November 12 to 13, 2009 – Colloque: Les savoirs en action. Pour une utilisation optimale des connaissances, Montréal, QC
http://www.criviff.qc.ca/pdf/act_205.pdf
November 15 to 18, 2009 – 8th ISPCAN Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Perth, Western Australia
http://www.apccan2009.org.au/
November 15 to 21, 2009 – Seventh Annual Bullying Awareness Week: Theme: "Stand Up! (to bullying)", Cochrane, AB
http://www.bullyingawarenessweek.org/
November 19 to 20, 2009 – RESOLVE Research Day 2009 – Healing from violence and abuse, Regina, SK
http://www.uregina.ca/resolve
April 18 to 24, 2010 - 5th annual National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (NVCAW) in Canada www.victimsweek.gc.ca
New Elder Abuse E-Bulletin - Subscribe Now!
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is launching the first edition of the Elder Abuse E-bulletin in October 2009 to coincide with the International Day of Older Persons. The E-bulletin is a quarterly e-newsletter for those interested in preventing and addressing abuse of older adults in Canada. It is intended to facilitate and enhance knowledge sharing among key stakeholders on the progress and achievements of PHAC's elder abuse activities. Recognizing the multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary nature of the public health approach, the E-bulletin will also highlight elder abuse initiatives from other sectors and levels of government.
To subscribe to the PHAC Elder Abuse E-bulletin, go to: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ea-ma/EB/eb-subscrib-eng.php
A Statistical Profile of Criminal Victimization Among Persons with Activity Limitations or Other Health Problems
The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics recently released the report, Criminal Victimization and Health: A Profile of Victimization Among Persons with Activity Limitations or Other Health Problems. Based on 2004 General Social Survey (GSS) data, this profile presents an analysis of the links between criminal victimization and activity limitations, and certain other health factors. In particular, it analyzes characteristics of incidents, victims and their perpetrators. Finally, the perceptions of persons with activity limitations of crime and the justice system are discussed.
Click here to find the report on the Statistics Canada website.
Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey - 2008 Highlights Report
In June 2009, Health Canada released the 2008 Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey (CADUMS) Highlights Report, the first set of national results on alcohol and illicit drug use since the 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey (CAS). CADUMS is an on-going telephone survey of alcohol and drug use by Canadians aged 15 and older in all provinces. The 2008 Highlights Report contains prevalence data such as lifetime use, past-year use, frequency of use and patterns of use for alcohol. In addition, prevalence is also presented for past year use of cannabis, other illicit drugs as well as psychoactive pharmaceuticul drugs. These indicators are presented both nationally and by province as well as by sex and age (youth vs. adults). Selected comparisons with the results from the 2004 CAS are also presented. Click here to view the 2008 Highlights Report.
In addition, the CADUMS Public Use Microdata File, for use by stakeholders and researchers, has been released via the Data Liberation Initiative of Statistics Canada.
The 2009 CADUMS data collection commenced in January 2009 and will be completed in December 2009. The 2009 Highlights are expected to be released in June/July 2010.
Financial Assistance to Host National Victims of Crime Awareness Week Events
The Government of Canada provides funding for organizations to host National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (NVCAW) events. April 18 - 24, 2010 will mark the 5th anniversary of the NVCAW in Canada. Due to the growing number of applications, the deadline for submitting funding applications has been advanced this year. The new deadline is November 1, 2009. As the amount of available funding each year is limited, not all eligible applications can be approved. Geographical distribution will be considered in the selection process. Collaborative projects and community partnerships are encouraged.
For more information on the NVCAW 2010 funding, go to: http://www.victimsweek.gc.ca/home-acceil.html
Request for Proposal: Defining and Measuring Elder Abuse and Neglect - Preparatory Work Required to Measure the Prevalence
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a multi-disciplinary research network to conduct a program of research on elder abuse and neglect. This network will conduct research over a two-year period on topics that includes defining elder abuse and neglect; and developing and validating instruments for measuring its prevalence, taking into account any associated methodological or ethical considerations. The research network will also consult with key stakeholders and experts to develop a broad consensus on its findings. A consensus workshop will be held to achieve this objective. A synthesis report will summarize the key research findings and the discussion from the consensus workshop.
The RFP closes October 23, 2009. It has been posted on the Government of Canada’s electronic tendering service, MERX (reference #179142), and advertised through HRSDC’s e-mail bulletin, Research Opportunities. To subscribe to the research bulletin, e-mail Jill Hartry at: jill.hartry@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca
Introducing Dr. Nancy Poole
Dr. Nancy Poole is a Research Associate and research network developer with the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health and a doctoral student with the University of South Australia. She has a Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) fellowship with the Mentor Research in Addictions Research Training Program (IMPART), a program focusing on gender, women and addictions. Dr. Poole has been involved with several research teams collaborating on addictions policy, service design and research with governments and organizations across Canada.
She was the facilitator of a national project funded by Health Canada under the Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund, entitled Coalescing on Women and Substance Use: Linking Research, Practice and Policy. This project promoted online "virtual" discussions with researchers, policy advocates and service providers on key topics related to women's substance use in Canada. Five information sheets were developed from discussions that focussed on integrating knowledge on substance use into support services for women who have experienced violence/trauma: Making connections: Women’s experience of violence and substance use; Information about substance use and addiction for women with violence concerns; Resolving differences in service philosophies; Discussing substance use with women; Resources about women’s experiences of substance use and violence-related concerns.
Dr. Poole has published and refereed several documents, edited a number of book chapters and authored a variety of technical publications. She recently co-edited a landmark book on women's substance use issues entitled, Highs and Lows: Current Canadian Perspectives on Women and Substance Use, published by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. It includes an in-depth chapter on the interconnection of trauma, mental health and substance use problems for women.
Poole, N., Greaves, L., Jategaonkar, N., McCullough, L., & Chabot, C. (2008). Substance Use by Women Using Domestic Violence Shelters. Substance Use and Misuse, 43, 1129-1150.
Poole, N. (2007). Connecting Virtually: Web cast on women, violence and substance use. Visions: BC’s Mental Health and Addictions Journal, 3(3), 25-26.
Poole, N. (2006). Doing it All: Developing Integrated Support for Women Experiencing Mental Health, Trauma-related and Substance Use Problems. Research Bulletin, Centres of Excellence for Women ’s Health, 5 (1), 21-22
Greaves L. & Poole, N. (2005) Victimized or Validated? Responses to Substances-Using Pregnant Women. Canadian Women Studies Journal, Volume 24, Number 1, 87-95
Jategaonkar, N., Greaves, L., Poole, N., McCullough, L., & Chabot, C. (2005). "Still Out There": Experiencing substance abuse and violence in rural British Columbia. Canadian Women's Studies, 24(4), 136-141
Poole, N., & Pearce, D. (January 2005), Seeking Safety, An Integrated Model for Women Experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Abuse: A Pilot Project of the Victoria Women ’s Sexual Assault Centre, Evaluation Report. Victoria, BC: Victoria Women ’s Sexual Assault Centre.
BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre – Woman Abuse Response Team
Building Bridges: Linking Woman Abuse, Substance Use and Mental Ill Health
The British Columbia (B.C.) Women’s Hospital and Health Centre is the only facility in B.C. focused primarily on women, newborns and families. It aims to improve the health for all women and their families by promoting best practices for such populations.
The Woman Abuse Response Program is housed within the Women’s Hospital and Health Centre and offers training, resource development, consultation and clinical support to health care workers throughout B.C. This Program uses a collaborative approach to help communities develop a response to the issue of violence against women and women’s health. It has a mandate to:
- Ensure that women who have been physically or sexually assaulted have local access to sensitive and informed care;
- Support the development of sustainable hospital-based health responses to women across B.C. who are experiencing abuse in a relationship; and
- Promote coordination and partnerships between health services and community-based violence intervention services.
In 2006, the Woman Abuse Response Program launched the initiative Building Bridges: Linking Woman Abuse, Substance Use and Mental Ill Health to promote and facilitate multi-sectoral dialogue among the mental health, addictions and anti-violence sectors. The Program held several discussions and consultations with service providers across the province to identify and address gaps in service, and enhance knowledge on key issues impacting women affected by woman abuse, mental ill health and/or substance abuse. Using this knowledge, the initiative ultimately aims to develop a provincial framework to guide the future direction of services, policy and research in B.C.
Further information on the Building Bridges initiative is available online at: http://www.bcwomens.ca/Services/HealthServices/WomanAbuseResponse/Building+Bridges.htm.
The NCFV’s November 2009 E-bulletin will focus on Child Maltreatment.
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Content of the NCFV E-Bulletin is provided as an information-sharing service; inclusion does not represent endorsement by the PHAC or FVI member departments.
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Please feel free to forward this E-Bulletin to a friend or colleague. Past bulletins can be viewed and searched on our website: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/EB/eb-archives-eng.php
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http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/EB/eb-subscrib-eng.php
National Clearinghouse on Family Violence: Telephone 1-800-267-1291; TTY 1-800-465-7735; Fax (613) 941-8930; Web site http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/nc-cn; e-mail ncfv-cnivf@phac-aspc.gc.ca
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