The Stella Project is working closely with GOL’s Drugs Team to help women’s refuges tackle the often linked problems of domestic violence and substance misuse.
Stella, a partnership between the Greater London Alcohol and Drug Alliance and the Greater London Domestic Violence Project, receives £52,000 of GOL funding. It recently published “Separate Issues Shared Solutions” which examined the link between domestic violence and drug abuse. Current research suggests that up to 70% of men who physically assault their partners do so under the influence of alcohol. And up to a fifth do so under the influence of other substances.
Stella is a pioneering initiative that supports work across the domestic violence and substance misuse boundary. Generally, women who flee violence but are substance misusers themselves are not accepted into refuges or hostels. Many refuges do not feel sufficiently skilled when working with drug abusing women. Stella links refuges with treatment providers so that refuge workers feel confident when addressing substance misuse issues, whilst still providing a vital safe haven.
Stella supports the Nia Project in Hackney, which is leading the way in this often neglected area. Nia’s Director, Marai Larasi said:
“Take women with substance misuse issues into refuges – work with them. Develop more women-only substance misuse services – gender specific spaces help women make that first step to disclosing that she is experiencing domestic violence.”
The Stella Project is working closely with GOL’s Drugs Team to help women’s refuges tackle the often linked problems of domestic violence and substance misuse. 