Safety first? The impact of domestic abuse on women's treatment experience

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of an exploratory study designed to investigate what is known about women's experiences of domestic abuse and their impact on treatment outcomes.

Aims: To explore whether domestic abuse has an impact on women's access to treatment, retention, relapse, or increase in their substance use.

Design: A literature review and key informant interviews.

Participants: Thirteen key informants were drawn from a range of agencies working with women using alcohol or drugs in England.

Measurement: The empirical research was read using set criteria including: type of treatment setting, single or mixed gender treatment, number in the sample, methods used, and key findings. The key themes were then extracted from the literature. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic coding.

Findings: Practice‐based evidence suggests women's engagement with and retention in treatment is negatively affected by domestic abuse. Literature‐based evidence is equivocal and limited in scope, quality and quantity.

Conclusions: While further research is required to substantiate the practice‐based evidence, it appears that treatment service providers are failing to recognize and address the issue of domestic abuse among their service users, leaving women and their children at risk.

• Domestic violence
• treatment outcomes
• safety

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the National Treatment Agency in England (NTA). However, the views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the NTA.

Notes

1. Domestic abuse has been used in preference to domestic violence as the latter can be interpreted as physical violence only. Domestic abuse encompasses a range of abusive behaviours, including emotional, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse. Domestic violence will only be used where it is the term used by an informant or a cited author.

2. Details can be found in the full report. At the time of writing, the NTA are planning to publish it online by the end of 2006.

3. Drug Treatment and Testing Order. The DTTO is a criminal justice intervention in the UK dispensed by the courts. It is part of a community‐based sentence for offenders with drug problems who agree to attend treatment.