Domestic violence and substance misuse agencies must improve links

Better links are needed between domestic violence and drug and alcohol misuse agencies because the two issues are often connected, delegates at Community Care LIVE heard today.

“Many drug and alcohol misuse agencies ignore domestic violence when working with service users. And many refuges feel ill-equipped to cope with substance misuse,” Jackie Barron, Women’s Aid research and policy officer told a session on working together to improve outcomes for children.

Failure to address the dual issues will lead to “dire consequences”, added Karen Bailey, project co-ordinator at the London-based Stella Project, which works with survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence who misuse substances.

Barron also said that children’s services provided by domestic violence organisations are “vital” but are often “under-resourced, underdeveloped and under-funded”. 

More information on domestic violence

More information on substance misuse