Safety and Drug or Alcohol Use

Most people in this culture use alcohol.  Many use mood-altering drugs.  Much of this use is legal and some is not.  The legal outcomes of using illegal drugs can be very hard on a battered women, may hurt her relationship with her children and put her at a disadvantage in other legal actions with her battering partner.  Therefore, women should carefully consider the potential cost of the use of illegal drugs.  But beyond this, the use of any alcohol or other drug can reduce a woman's awareness and ability to act quickly to protect herself from her battering partner.  Furthermore, the use of alcohol or other drugs by the batterer may give him/her an excuse to use violence.  Therefore, in the context of drug or alcohol use, a woman needs to make specific safety plans.

If drug or alcohol use has occurred in you relationship with a battering partner, you should enhance you safety by the following:

1. If you are going to use, you can do so in a safe place and with people who understand the risk of violence and are committed to you safety.

2. To safeguard your children, you can take them to a family member or friends home for the night.