Emerging issues in the world have taken a divergent scope influenced by the ever dynamic life of man. It is quite clear that observable steps can be seen wwhen it all started to the war against servitude during the dark ages, millitary demonstration in the era of making thrones and dynasties that eventually led to political and economic motivation to prowess.Later with time things took another turn with invensions calling, technology and now in recent times with the empowered woman of today who can voice out her grievances calling for an end to alcoholism, drug abuse and its influence to family violence. While drug abuseis maladactive use of drugs and alcoholic substance that alters the way the mind and body functions ,family violence commonly known as domestic violence can be defined as abusive behaviours by either one or both partners in a marital relationship.Domestic violence takes forms including physical aggretion or abuse , threats, stalking, intimidation, domination and neglect.
Given the importance attached to the family structure and institution, any course of action that threatens its harmouneous existence is of utmost importance to everyone raging from citizens and the government setup. The family acts as a reproduction unit, emotional relief center while at the same time acting as primary socialization for children. No one would want to raise kids in a family without peace, in an abusive and demorolizing environment that will only cause rebbelion and a generation haunted by morallessness.The big quesstion of whether alcohol and drug abuse is the major cause of family violence , makes the topic more applealing. Barret, Meisner and Stewart in their book, " what befalls family after spousal drug use, (1999)", have mentioned how dug abuse and alcholism has a direct relationship to family chaos and how its the major cause of domestic skirmishes. Both of these authors explain the extent to which the vice have penetrated our society today. This is very crucial in analysing, understanding and developing a coping and solutionary mechanism of drug abuse and negative effects to ones spouses or family members. With the evidence of such research findings, it only wise if the problem is handled in such a stage when it can be contained. This provides justification and automatic relevance for the study on drug abuse and alocoholism and its consequences of domestic violence inorder to eradicate it or put across preventative measures where possible.
That said however, it can not be ignored that alcoholism and drug abuse is not always associated with family violence. Its often heard that someone's partner is only violent when they are drinking. Unfortunately, this argument seldom holds water. Larry Bennett,PhD, licensed social worker and professor at the Indiana University Shool of Social Work, "a batterer who quites drinking and substance abuse is a sober batter'.Bennet further argues, that alcoholism and drug abuse doesnt cause domestic violence any more than poverty, depression or trauma history does which is only expressed in the state of intoxication. According to the Women's Rural Advocacy Program , no evidence supports a cause and effect relationship between the the two problem, but rather domestic violence is alearned behaviour and is not the result of substance abuse.
Whether alcohol and substance abuse is linked to be the source of most family violence or not, being in the best state of our faculties is of utmost importance if sober judgement is to be delivered. Our everyday chores and routines need execution with intelligence and certainity wich can not be achieved under influence without forgeting that our children are the direct replica of our behaviour to build their personality.The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (2015) reported that, in the United States alone, "one in fifteen children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year exposing them to psychological torture".
The discussion about substance abuse and family instabilty can not be complete without highlitingthe observable negative effects of intoxication. From accidents in our roads claiming many young, energetic andable lives that would have contributed to the betterment of the world.Destruction of property during home violences including acts of arson and physical injury to the victims. Health issues occur as side effects with withdrawal symptoms hauting in the case of quiting , without forgeting the cost burden that comes with drug abuse and alhocoholism. With all those factors put together, its the high time we bow to the pressure and look into the matter with the seriousness it deserves before things get out of hand.
works cited
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