Domestic Violence and Chemical Dependency
Different Languages

Communication between domestic violence advocates and substance abuse counselors can be frustrated by their lack of a common language. Learning and respecting the need for different languages is an important step in strengthening their ability to work together. This handout contrasts common language usages within the fields in an effort to make communication between them a little easier.

Chemical Dependency Battered Women Batterers
Recovering Survivor/Victim Non-abusive/Non-coercive
Recovery Attaining safety/Healing from effects of abuse Accepting responsibility for choice to use violence and behaving non-coercively
Treatment Provision of information and support with goal of safety and empowerment Intervention with accountability/Provision of information to support choice to behave non-violently
Self-help Peer Support Legal and social accountability/Peer accountability
Powerlessness Empowerment Abuse of power
Medical model/Individual is "sick", has a disease Socio-political model/Society is "sick" Socio-political model/Society is "sick"
Social service mission Social change mission Social change mission
Loses control over substance Is controlled by partner's use of violence and coercion Selective use of violence/ Escalates violence in order to maintain control over partner
Family as dysfunctional Family engaging in adaptive strategies in an attempt to protect themselves Battering is functional in the sense that the batterer gets what he wants
Enabling Proecting self from harmful consequences
Co-dependent/Co-alcoholic Socialized female behavior/Adaptive survival strategies
Addicted to substance Trapped in relationship by fear and lack of support Intentional behavior supported by attitudes of male privilege and lack of accountability
Relapse-a part of the recovery process Leaving and returning-a part of the safety process Reverting to violence - a crime
Intergenerational patterns of addiction/Biological and environmental predisposition No such pattern for female victimization Intergenerational patterns of male violence/Socially learned and supported behavior
Increased physiological tolerance to substance Coping/Managing/Surviving in the midst of danger and fear Social tolerance of battering contributes to batterer's choice to escalate violent behavior
Chemical Dependency Battered Women Batterers

Developed by Theresa Zubretsky, New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence

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