Implementing a Harm Reduction Approach to Substance Use in an Intimate Partner Violence Agency: Practice Issues in an Irish Setting

Abstract

There has been growing recognition of the co-occurrence of substance use and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization in women’s and men’s lives, yet many IPV service providers have not developed an integrated response to these issues. Fewer still have implemented substance use services from a harm reduction approach. This article outlines the approach, policy changes, initial outcomes, and learning points for an IPV agency in Ireland, which implemented a harm reduction response to female IPV survivors who were also using substances problematically. Barriers and challenges for staff and management seeking to coordinate and integrate service delivery on the dual issues are also presented.

[…] you feel there’s nowhere left to go: the barriers to support among women who experience substance use and domestic abuse in the UK

“…However, their narratives also suggest that practitioners also need to be equipped with information about the support that is available. In Ireland, Morton et al, (2015) demonstrated how training domestic abuse refuge staff about substance use and promoting a harm reduction housing-first approach by changing the refuge policies to include women with substance use, can begin to support women with dual needs. Morton et al, (2015) found that when women with dual needs were welcomed to the refuge, substance use within the refuge did not increase.…”

“…In Ireland, Morton et al, (2015) demonstrated how training domestic abuse refuge staff about substance use and promoting a harm reduction housing-first approach by changing the refuge policies to include women with substance use, can begin to support women with dual needs. Morton et al, (2015) found that when women with dual needs were welcomed to the refuge, substance use within the refuge did not increase. The researchers believed that the stability or reduction of substance use among the women was associated with the '…rigorous attention paid to drafting and implementing a substance use policy in the organization, which gave clear guidelines for responding to a large variety of scenarios that might arise.…”

“…While increased funding and more specialist services are paramount in supporting women with substance use and domestic abuse, as Morton et al, (2015) show, educating practitioners about the inter-relationship between problematic substance use and domestic abuse can have a positive impact on both the staff and the women in need of support. As some of the women in this study highlighted, they did not want to focus on their domestic abuse because they felt it was not relevant or important at the point of interview.…”

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Domestic Violence and Substance Misuse: An Action Research Study on Routine Enquiry and Practice Responses

“…Established 25 years ago in a large town in Ireland, the organization provides emergency accommodation, keyworker support, counseling, helpline support, children's interventions and court accompaniment. Over the past decade, the organization has developed specific supports and responses to women who are experiencing problematic substance use, and currently; accommodate women within refuge with substance misuse issues; routinely enquire about substance use issues; support women to access substance use stabilization, treatment, and recovery services; provide harm reduction interventions; and provide substance misuse in-reach for residents ( 38 ). In addition, substance misuse responses and interventions are integrated into other services such as the Pattern Change groupwork programme, art therapy and advocacy supports ( 2 ).…”