Is it true that alcohol and drugs cause abusive behavior?
For many years it was believed that if an abusive partner curtailed his alcohol or drug use, the battering would cease. These substances were blamed for the batterer’s behavior. We now know that being intoxicated or high is simply an excuse for abusive behavior, not its causes. Certainly, many abusive relationships involve alcohol and chemical dependency issues. Battering and chemical dependency, while they may have a common denominator in the person, they are still two separate issues. Research indicates that even when a batterer quits drinking or using drugs, the battering continues. He will simply find something or someone else to blame for his behavior.
