Domestic violence and alcohol use: Security measures of compulsory treatment and a case study

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is one among a number of factors in the etiology of violent crime which includes domestic violence. Domestic violence usually designates: violence between partners (spouses) and violence towards children and elderly parents. The aim of this article is to highlight the impact of alcohol abuse (intoxication) and alcohol dependence on domestic violence, but also to emphasize the multifactoriality of this relation, the economic damage that society suffers and the society´s very role with regard to the alcohol-crime relation. Presented are also different research projects and statistical data regarding the prevalence of this phenomena, together with three case studies that involved violent behavior towards the spouse, children and parents. The offenders received an order of compulsory treatment of alcoholism in a psychiatric institution and have been treated and observed for two years (psychotherapy and support clubs). The literature and the experiences of psychotherapeutic practice lead to a conclusion that prevention of alcohol abuse and alcoholism is indeed one of the factors that play a significant role in reducing the rate of violent crime, especially of domestic violence.