Essay - Alcohol, Drugs, and Domestic Violence Statement of the Problem Family...

Alcohol, Drugs, and Domestic Violence

Statement of the Problem

Family violence - or male aggression against women in a relationship setting - also known as domestic violence (DV) is most certainly a devastating social and moral problem in our society; but it is also a serious police problem, and an expensive health *****. In fact, the annual health care cost associated with ***** manifestations of ***** is estimated to run as high as $857 million ***** the United States (Rodiguez, et al, 2001). But moreover, DV takes a toll on American families that is much greater than any dollar amount could ever reflect ***** and, in addition, DV ***** a social blemish on the face of America that seems to be gett*****g worse, not better. The "causes" of violence in ***** family - why men act aggressively against their wives and girlfriends and even their children - are varied and complicated; but in *****o m***** cases, the use and ab***** ***** alcohol and drugs is factored into the equation. And while there is a dearth of empirical, clinical research directly linking ********** chemical influence on the brain - alcohol is of course a drug - to ***** aggression ***** women, ***** exists a plethora of circumstantial evidence making ***** specific connection.

Introduction / Thesis

This paper will examine ***** question of violence and ***** / alcohol in depth: indeed, what factual research is presently available surrounding the issue of alcohol and its connection to male aggression towards women and *****? Why are ***** and drugs a pivot*****l part of that brutal phenomenon? The ***** will ***** provide research into the *****: are *****re emerging remedies ***** solutions for DV? What can be done? Clearly, there has, as yet, been no "cure-all" program or solution devised to keep the abuse of alcohol and drugs - ***** ***** against women - in check, ***** this salient question will be addressed: are ********** steps families can take ***** avoid become statistics in the ongoing scourge ***** booze, drugs, and violence in the family? And what about victims - are their plans ***** *****s to care ***** their needs, and / or prevent recurrences of assaults upon them? America prides itself on being a n*****ti***** of laws - but is the U.S. popular culture too steeped in ***** as entertainment - ***** alcohol as a cool, manly thing to do - to expect a reduction in ***** cruelty to *****?

Alcohol/Drug-related family violence ********** occur ***** a social vacuum

***** important at the outset to recognize th***** the dynamics ***** DV - and violence against women in intimate relationships where *****re is ***** matrimony or family affiliation ***** ***** numerous and varied causes, well beyond the issue of a male over-consuming alcohol and / or drugs. One of ***** most frequent and verifiable links to underst*****ing DV is the dynamic ***** individuals in the low income bracket: "Poverty...incre*****es r*****k [of DV] through effects on c*****flict, *****'s power, and ***** identity" (Jewkes, 2002). "Violence is