Exploring the Relationship Between Gender Based Violence and Addiction Recovery in Men

Gender-based violence (GBV) has the potential to affect men with substance use disorder either as victims, perpetrators, or both. This can significantly disrupt recovery from substance use disorders (SUD) and negatively impact mental health, which is often under-recognized, making it a stronger barrier in recovery. The mental health of men exposed to GBV and substance use disorder can lead to a myriad of other challenges, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety. Such disorders could also be worsened by shame, trauma, and emotional suppression, due to societal expectations such as that men should always be strong.

Many men are socialized to avoid vulnerability, and when combined with substance use disorder, an individual may struggle to acknowledge victimization or emotional pain, creating a cycle of trauma, substance misuse, and mental health challenges that hinder recovery in a big way. Gender based violence (GBV) in itself reinforces emotional distress, limits help-seeking behaviour, and increases relapse risk, which is a good indicator that addressing GBV directly within treatment and recovery spaces is essential for achieving sustainable recovery and psychological wellbeing.

GBV, in its nature, may damage trust for an individual with SUD in social circles and their interpersonal relationships, causing weak support systems that eventually reduce protective factors needed for recovery. Stigma and masculinity norms in some parts of the world, coupled with cultural expectations and substance use disorder among men, may discourage help-seeking behaviour, increasing shame and emotional distress. Substance use disorder (SUD) is complex in nature and sometimes co-exists with other health-related challenges within the environment of men in recovery.

In other cases, GBV-related trauma, if untreated, can become a trigger for relapse, and where the recovery programs do not necessarily address trauma, poor outcomes and/ or dropout from recovery programs are likely. To increase the chances of recovery, effective recovery programs require comprehensive and multidimensional approaches. Some of these include: trauma-informed care that recognizes GBV experiences, creation of safe spaces where men can openly discuss vulnerability, integration of mental health, addiction treatment, and GBV support at all levels of care with consistent efforts to reduce stigma and reshape harmful masculinity norms.

GBV and substance use are closely interconnected. Men may use alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism for trauma or emotional pain, which has a likelihood of increasing the risk of perpetrating or experiencing violence.