Maria Smyrnaki (1) & Maria Moudatsou (2)
(1) Psychologist, Doctor of the Department of Primary Education of the University of Crete, Head of Open, Support Unit of KETHEA ARIADNI, Postal Address: 12, Apolodorou street, Agios ioannis Knossos, Heraklion, 71409, Crete-Greece, tel: +30 695 8450 389, +30 2811 102 525
Email: marsmyrn@hotmail.com & smirnaki@kethea-ariadni.gr
(2) Social worker, PhD in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Social Medicine in University of Crete, European certificate of Psychotherapy, Department of Social work, laboratory of interdisciplinary Approaches for the Enhancement of Quality of life (Quality of life lab), Hellenic Mediterranean University, Centre of Mental Health Heraklion Crete. Address: Terpsihoris 25, Agios Ioannis Knossou, Heraklion, 71409, Crete-Greece, tel. +30 693 8980 463, +30 2810 213 452
E-mail: moudatsoum@yahoo.gr
Abstract
Domestic violence (psychological, physical, sexual) is usually an aggravating factor for the individual’s psychosocial development and adaptation. It is often included between the causal factors that are able, in combination with other factors, to lead to addiction, which is another form of self-directed violence. The addicted person, under the biological and psychological “influence” of his/her addiction, often behaves violently towards his/her family members adversely affecting their psycho-emotional and social health, with particularly serious consequences for children growing up in such an environment. This creates a vicious circle of violence reproduction with significant consequences for the addicted person, his/her family members, workplace, social environment and, generally, for the society. In such a context, arises the need for treatment of the addicted person and his/her family alongside with the need for multi-level preventive interventions aimed at coping and preventing the common causal factors of violence and addiction. Critical is the role of society (wider and local) in shaping an organized plan to remove the existing social tolerance of violence and addiction, as well as its consequent consequences. For the effective / holistic approach to violence and addiction, are considered imperative the issues of their early diagnosis by the competent services, the direct, continuous, systematic communication, interconnection, cooperation between the existing services and their amplification through the development of new ones in the fields the need arises.
Key-Words: domestic violence, addiction, treatment, prevention.
