Al-Anon Domestic Violence Research Paper

Many participants engaged the group with stories of overcoming addiction or being sexually molested by family members as reasons behind their addiction. However all of their stories were compelling and empowering to the group of individuals who have seemed to endure some of the same sentiments as their fellow group mate. It appeared as if the individuals in the group even though that were court ordered appeared to be extremely engaged and very involved during the meetings. It seemed as though most who attended found peace and solice from the group during the NA meetings. As it stated by Krentzman, Robinson, Moore, et.al (2010), client’s state that their top two reasons for attending NA meetings were to promote recovery/ sobriety and to find support acceptance and friendships. One thing that I learned from the NA group that just as in AA, family support deems to be an important function on the perseverance of an addict and that the participation and involvement of family is detrimental in the treatment process for the addicts. In several of our readings many of the passages discussed the effects of family systems support as it pertains to substance abusers chemical addiction. The passages described the family system as being a detrimental part of the treatment process as well as for the treatment of the family as well. According to past studies, family involvement has aided clients in

A staggering 30% of U.S. adults have been or currently are alcoholics, and not all of them have abstained from parenthood. The essay “Under the Influence” by Russel Sanders tells the tale of a young boy who had an alcoholic father, who he could not understand why he was an alcoholic, except for the belief that he was possessed by demons. He didn’t live around any treatment centers that could help his father, for he lived in the backwoods of Ohio. He talked about the constant fear of his father beating him (which he never did), and the constant fear of his father leaving him (which he did for small increments of time). The trauma of having a father who was an alcoholic father stayed with Sanders well into adulthood.

One Thursday night, I ventured out to into the warm early autumn night. I headed to a local hospital, where I knew there was Al-Anon meetings held once every two weeks. I believed that this would be a prime opportunity to witness a self-help group that was geared towards helping the relatives and loved ones of addicts deal with the terror of living with, or without, the addict in question. Addiction is a disease which impacts so many more lives than just the addict themselves. Al-Anon meetings are meant to help support the efforts of those loved ones as they face very different issues associated with addiction.

The prevalence of alcohol abuse/substance abuse is on the rise today. One of the biggest challenges facing our society today is dealing with the effects of alcohol/substance abuse in families. One can ascertain that alcohol/substance abuse can destroy not only an individual, but a whole family and even a whole community in general. This is a dangerous phenomenon that has made its way into many homes, leaving families shattered, hurt and left with nothing but anger.

There are over 23 million people, 12 and older, living in the United States who are in need of substance abuse treatment (Atkins & Hawdon, 2007). Effective support groups are needed to address an individual’s substance abuse while also take into consideration their beliefs. Atkins and Hawdon (2007) noted despite the popularity and effectiveness of 12-step support groups, a common dominator among individuals who reject them are the concepts surrounding the religious connotation associated with these groups. Without treatment, the effects of substance abuse can be devastating. Significant social and economic ramification such as death and overwhelming financial expenses are two critical outcomes correlated with substance abuse. DeLucia et

A large number of incarcerated women report high rates of abuse, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse (Wolff, Frueh, Shi, Schumann, 2012). This writer recently started to conduct individual substance abuse counseling to women incarcerated at the Hendry County Jail. During the time of speaking to these women, a common factor has arisen, that is the fact that most of these women have been involved in some sort of domestic violence. Although there are women’s jail groups available throughout the country, there are not enough of these groups that focus on battered women. This writer proposes to incorporate a battered women’s in jail group that will focus on helping those women who are incarcerated and who have been involved in domestic violence throughout their lifetime.

Many people who seek domestic violence services, and even more who do not seek services, are dealing with substance abuse issues as well as abuse. The reasons that domestic violence victims begin their substance abuse vary, but can include: use as a coping mechanism in order to survive the abusive situation, a way to deal with abuse of the past, coercion and by an abusive partner, chemical dependency, cultural oppression or a new sense of freedom (Bland & Edmund, 2005).

For instance, the program may not be as effective for women because the model does not emphasize empowerment (Traylor, 2015). Furthermore, the program is not equipped for everyone's needs. Some individuals may need therapy and/or medical treatment, such as detox which AA cannot provide (Rehab4alcoholism Staff, 2017). Moreover, because the program emphasizes the “reliance on a higher power” it can cause individuals to believe they are powerless to change without the higher power (Rehab4alcoholism Staff, 2017). Next, “the anonymity of AA has led some member to abuse other members” (Rehab4alcoholism Staff, 2017). Since members are subjected to a policy to protects people’s identity, many women have confessed to being sexually abused during or after a meeting. In fact, this issue has caused the program to eliminate the thirteenth step of the program: sponsoring (Rehab4alcoholism Staff, 2017). Besides this, many are subjected to AA as a result of court order. Hence, the members are not truly willing to recover. Thus, prohibiting the growth of the other members. Not to mention, AA can cause influential people to become involved with the wrong crowd. Since the program is community-based, participants are surrounded by those who may also be addicted to drugs. Hence, a young or influential person may get involved with drugs through the group setting (Rehab4alcoholism Staff, 2017).In other words, AA can influence peer pressure.

Researchers Smith, Homish, Leonard, and Cornelius admit that it is well known that a risk factor for intimate partner violence is substance use. (2012) However, we have a very limited understanding of the association between specific substance use and intimate partner violence. These researchers set out to bring about a deeper understanding of this. For the purpose of this study, researchers examined intimate partner violence in the presence of alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and opioid use, as well as poly-substance use of alcohol and cocaine and alcohol and marijuana. (Smith, et al., 2012) Further, this study looked at substance use and intimate partner violence and differentiated between perpetration and victimization. Alcohol and cocaine use disorders were highly associated with intimate partner perpetration whereas cannabis and opioid use disorders were more highly associated with intimate partner victimization. (Smith, et al., 2012) Individuals diagnosed with both an alcohol use disorder and a cannabis use disorder were reported to have a lower likelihood of intimate partner perpetration compared to having the diagnosis of any one substance use disorder. Having a poly-substance use disorder with the combination of alcohol and cocaine increased the likelihood of an individual to perpetrate intimate partner violence. However, if you remove the diagnosis of alcohol use disorder and only have a cocaine use disorder, the

More than 24 million people of the United States of America are victims of relationship abuse in a given year. Women are not the only sufferers because it happens to men too. Stoprelationshipabuse.org defines relationship abuse as “a pattern of abusive and coercive behaviors used to maintain power and control over a former or current intimate partner.” Sources say that it can stem from childhood experiences or caused by alcohol. Facts and myths cloud the subject and create misinterpretations on the causes. Either of these can create detrimental effects to the victims. Abuse is a choice that can be influenced by outside factors.

Domestic violence can be found in houses around the United States, affecting the people in it. In some cases it can cause a long term depression or potentially cause suicide, which is not a topic to be joking about, so the government creates programs to help the needed in their recovery and thus come the question that has wandered us all “Are these programs having their intended effect? Are they working to curb domestic violence?” As surprising as it sounds, there is a lot of argument on whether these programs are working and not working, and if it shows promising results of the patient’s recovery. When reading reports about patients with statements about domestic violence program are not having the intended effect on their patients thus, comes the development that domestic violence helping programs are not effective in recovering patients.

Another aspect f substance abuse is codependency. Kanal (2011) defines the codependent as person that is close to the abuser. In this instance, the other person becomes dependent as well. One could same it is reflective of “If you cannot beat them, join them.” This is obviously problematic because the normal model finds the abuser and the other person in his or her life trying to seek help for the person, advocating for the person to quit, and has no desire to become addicted as well. This is normally the person who works to ensure the other people in the home children remain safe. One most also realize that alcoholism is passed from one generation to the next it is both genetically passed and a nurtured habit.

The fact is that you, or someone you love, may fall victim to domestic violence at some point in your lifetime. As a victim of violence, you may face many struggles. Trying to cope, many women turn to alcohol or other substances in an effort to get some relief from the physical, psychological, emotional or other pain caused by the abuser. Substance abuse, however, doesn’t prove effective in helping the victim heal from the trauma. In fact, it can present a host of new problems that make it even more difficult to resolve any of them.

The article is a different view of domestic abuse by providing counseling, resources, and support for male abusers. The men are taught to take responsibility for their actions, realize and accept the pain they’ve caused, learn new ways to cope with anger, learn self-control methods, and learn new rules as to how to be in a loving, intimate relationship.

Domestic violence is a global issue which impacts many individuals in numerous ways. To gain a detailed understanding of both the aggressor and victims of domestic violence I chose to exam the psychological and environmental aspects that may influence this continuous behavior that coincides with the continual cycle of violence.