The consequences of substance abuse can thread through a relationship on a host of physical and emotional levels making the spouse living with a drug addict more susceptible to domestic violence, claims a new study.
According to experts from the Department of Pedagogy at the University of Granada, drug abuse precipitates the incidents of domestic violence.
The researchers found that six out of ten male drug abusers subject their intimate partners to personal control, sexual abuse, neglect and emotional blackmail due to their own guilt.
Details of the study
The researchers conducted the study in a bid to get a better insight into gender based violence due to drug abuse .
They enrolled 153 men aged between 20 and 65 years who were part of some rehabilitation units in Andalusia. All the study subjects were addicted to cocaine, alcohol, heroin or heroin-cocaine.
For the purpose of the study, the participants were questioned on spousal abuse and the most persistent form of domestic violence.
Revelations of the study
The study found that psychological violence is more prevalent than physical violence.
Physical violence varied between 6.5 percent and 21 percent while psychological violence fluctuated between 7.3 percent and 72.4 percent.
Nearly 6.5 to 72.4 percent of the participants confessed to inflicting some form of violence against their partner.
According to the volunteers, the less common incidents of abuse included «I forced her to abort against her will» (6.5%), while the most widespread behavior involved «I show total disregard for her needs, wishes and interests».
The study also found that 63.5 percent of those questioned wanted to keep tabs on their partners at all times of the day, their hours and their associations.
Other findings
The alarming aspect of the study was that 51 percent of male addicts were well aware of the traumatic impact of domestic violence on their intimate partners.
Nevertheless, they were unwilling to abandon them or let them break free from the shackles of the relationship.
The study also found that 78.8 percent of the relationships culminated in a temporary separation, but most of the couples ended up getting back together.
Lead author of the study, Amelia Matute Lopez stated, «Despite their negative effect on their health and well-being, women remain in this type of relationship as a result of the pressure exerted by their male partners and of the romantic myths of unconditional and imbalanced love.”
