The Little Blue Book

“Alcohol and drug-use plays a substantial role in family and domestic violence… Key challenges (in addressing this issue) include the intergenerational nature of the cycle of violence and the devastating impact it has on children in families who suffer such violence.” 1 The NDLERF report showed: 2 Australian research into the scourge of family violence shows a strong causal link between the misuse of alcohol and drugs, and violence committed against partners and family members. While people not alcohol and drug-affected also commit these terrible acts, much of this violence is fuelled by alcohol and drugs. Research conducted by The National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund (NDLERF) 2 , shows that alcohol and/or drugs are disproportionately involved in family violence incidents reported to police. And, for those incidents involving police call-outs and intervention, the offenders are predominantly male, and the victims predominantly female. Too many women are terribly injured, too many lose their lives, and too many children suffer physical and mental harm at the hands of alcohol and drug-affected perpetrators. • Alcohol and/or drugs were involved in more than 40% of family violence incidents reported to police • Alcohol-related domestic violence incidents were more likely to result in either a physical (34.4%) or psychological injury (20.6%) • Of drug-related domestic violence incidents, 43% resulted in physical injury • Heavy episodic drinking (binge drinking) increased the risk of violence by a factor of six • The negative consequences of family violence include physical injury, depression, suicide, and post-traumatic stress disorder. GETTING HELP If you can recognise yourself – your own use of alcohol and drugs, and your behaviours when heavily affected – among the family violence statistics on this page, it’s time you went looking for the ‘better self’ within. This can be hard; it’s not easy acknowledging loss of control, nor is it easy to truly recognise the physical and mental harm our behaviours can inflict on our loved ones and others. But the misuse of alcohol or drugs – being drunk or drug-affected – can never be an excuse for violence, never. So look inside, and call for help if you need it: Mensline Australia 1300 78 99 78 1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732 Counselling Online counsellingonline.org.au ALCOHOL, DRUGS & FAMILY VIOLENCE RECOGNISING DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND OTHER DISORDERS 102