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

Sarah Fox (Department of Sociology, Substance Use and Associated Behaviours (SUAB) Research Centre, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK)

Advances in Dual Diagnosis

ISSN: 1757-0972

Article publication date: 2 March 2020

Issue publication date: 14 May 2020

1038

Abstract

Purpose

Domestic abuse victimisation is a common experience among women with problematic substance use, but support provision for both issues is siloed within the UK. Research on the topic focuses on practitioner responses, dominating women’s voices within research, policy and practice. As such, knowledge about women’s experiences of help-seeking is missing. This study therefore aims to fill a gap in knowledge by exploring the lived experiences of supporting seeking among women impacted by domestic abuse and substance use.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 women who had a history of co-occurring problematic substance use and domestic abuse. Influenced by interpretive phenomenological analysis and feminist research praxis, the study explored how women with dual needs navigated support and help seeking and the barriers they faced.

Findings

The women reported the biggest barrier was the disconnect between substance use and domestic abuse support, including a gap in the communication of information. This resulted in them having to choose which of their needs to seek support for. None of the women received support for their combined experiences, and most of the women never received support for their domestic abuse experiences alone.

Originality/value

This is the first piece of research from the UK to explore, in-depth, women’s journey through support for their co-occurring substance use and domestic abuse victimisation. Previous research has not consulted with women to understand how they navigate the complex support systems available. This paper is, therefore, important, because it demonstrates the journeys to services these women take and the barriers they have to overcome.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Professor Sarah Galvani at the SUAB Research Centre, for supporting this paper. Funding: This research was funded by The Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA). The views expressed in this publication do not represent the views of the SSA.

Citation

Fox, S. (2020), "[…] you feel there’s nowhere left to go: the barriers to support among women who experience substance use and domestic abuse in the UK", Advances in Dual Diagnosis, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 57-71. https://doi.org/10.1108/ADD-09-2019-0010

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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