POD-Reduce the Harm to Intimate Partners & Children Resulting from Problematic Alcohol Use

Return to Reduce the Harm to Intimate Partners & Children Resulting from Problematic Alcohol Use

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Brief Page Description

Examples of a Description for this Objective

Reduce the harm to intimate partners and children resulting from problematic alcohol use.  Don’t let alcohol destroy your family and harm your children.

Since we know there is a link  between problematic alcohol use and DV or other behaviors that cause childhood trauma, but steps to reduce potential harm are rarely taken.  Harm reduction is generally only thought about for other drug use (e.g. opioids), but it is neglected for alcohol.  There are both stigma and political issues with the term “harm reduction.”   A person with problematic alcohol use typically has 4 ED visits per year.   (How are they working on anger management, etc.   How do we engage people in learning, understanding and healing underlying trauma, 

 

Examples of a From-To Gap

Current State		Desired State
a.  There have been successful campaigns to reduce the automobile-related harms related to alcohol use (“Friends don’t let friends drive drunk”, designated drivers, MADD, etc.) but not for the harm cause to children and intimate partners.		a. A wide range of interventions, including public education, have greatly reduced the harm to children and intimate partners due to alcohol use.
b. Many people seeking care or treatment supports are met with barriers including stigma, feeling judged and are discriminated against (because its “your own fault”).  They are more likely to be denied care and compassion.  Brain science and system factors are often poorly understood.   Options are often limited to treatment or self.		b. All staff in ED and justice system receive ongoing anti-stigma training  & compassion. People understand brain science and system factors, and compassionate, trauma-informed care is provided to people without judgement or shaming.  People get connected to a wide range of supports for healing.
c. When a person comes to an ED with an alcohol problem, the focus tends to only be on them not drinking to excess—missing the opportunity to address underlying causes and/or risks of other damage that can result. People with problematic alcohol use are not typically provided information on the underlying causes.		c.  When a person has a medical system encounter (e.g. ED visit) due to misuse/overuse of alcohol, it starts a series of interventions to help address the underlying issues and reduce the risk for harming others. In order to help deal with the underlying causes of problematic alcohol use, people encountering the healthcare system are provided with educational materials on things like ACEs, self-medication and strategies to work on those issues.d. Same as above, but for the justice system.
d. Same as above, for the Justice System		d. Same as above, for the Justice System.
e. Education on the risks of alcohol during pregnancy focuses on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, but not much on the risks of alcohol use on parenting capacity after the child is born.  Problematic use by parents can have a significant negative impact on child brain development due to parenting-related trauma to the child, including DV.		e.There is widespread education of parents during the pre-natal period about the risks and negatives of alcohol use on parenting that will negatively impact infants.  Parents understand that their own trauma may be contributing to their overuse of alcohol, and they have learned other coping skills rather than alcohol. (Break the cycle.)

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Examples of Current Activity

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