Substance Abuse: Building a Bridge to Safety for Survivors

Advocates for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault often neglect to screen for substance use. Failure to ask key questions or recognize substance use disorders may stem from: lack of time, a sense of helplessness to assess outside an area of expertise, fear of “opening up a can of worms,” concerns about angering or hurting a survivor’s feelings, lack of knowledge of community resources, or a lack of trust in other system providers. These barriers are compounded if they exist within a culture that routinely denies access to services for survivors with substance use challenges.