Cannabis and Domestic Violence
Domestic violence and cannabis have something major in common—they are both topics that should be talked about, but aren’t easy to talk about with a majority of Americans because of outdated social stigmas that still persist. Studies have shown that couples who use cannabis experience lower rates of domestic violence. Furthermore, those who have suffered from domestic violence and assault often use cannabis to treat the PTSD they suffer from because of their past.
A study done in 2014 by Yale University, Rutgers and University of Buffalo found lower rates of domestic violence between married couples who both use cannabis. The study started in 1996, and followed 634 couples for nine years. The study also took into account factors like use and behavioral issues, and still found that overwhelmingly, the cannabis-using couples were less violent (Smith et. al, 2014).
“We need well-designed, randomized control trials that prevent human bias.”
The researchers hypothesize that the positive side effects of using cannabis may actually reduce conflict and aggression. However, the researchers worry that some of these findings may have been predictive rather than causal—meaning that this could be not because cannabis is making people less violent, but because those who choose to smoke cannabis are the type of people who would not commit violent acts in the first place (Smith et. al, 2014). That is still not a bad outcome of this research, as it serves to dispel the already-refuted myth that cannabis users are violent or aggressive people. Within the study, the couples that used cannabis more frequently generally also experienced less frequent intimate partner violence for both men and women, within the first nine years of marriage; and, when both people in the couple used cannabis frequently, the couple became even less at risk for subsequent partner violence.
Other recent studies have pinpointed another source for aggressive behavior and substance-based root causes for domestic violence and violent behavior in couples. Some studies have shown that it is not cannabis, but alcohol that contributes, in a major way, to the likelihood of aggressive and violent behavior. An article published in the Journal of Addictive Behaviors reported that “alcohol is clearly the drug with the most evidence to support a direct intoxication-violence relationship,” whereas “cannabis reduces the likelihood of violence during intoxication.”
Another study conducted by the Research Institute on Addictions found that among individuals who were “chronic partner abusers,” their use of alcohol was associated with major increases in a day-to-day likelihood of physical aggression, but their use of cannabis was not associated. Apparently, the specific odds of abuse were eight times higher on days when the men in the study were drinking alcohol, while the odds of “severe abuse” were 11 times higher.
“Within the study, the couples that used cannabis more frequently generally also experienced less frequent intimate partner violence for both men and women, within the first nine years of marriage . . .”
Additionally, those who have unfortunately suffered domestic violence at the hands of an abuser often use cannabis to help with their PTSD. While cannabis is of course not yet FDA approved, or even legal in some places, for the treatment of such a condition, there have been many anecdotal reports of cannabis working wonders for those who suffer from nightmares, panic attacks, or destructive thoughts.
“Until we do our study, I won’t be able to say definitively that it does help, but I can tell you there is a mountain of anecdotal reports from patients,” explained Dr. Sue Sisley, MD, a practicing physician who is currently studying the effects of cannabis on patients with PTSD. “These studies don’t have any credibility with medical professionals, and the problem is that the results of that data are conflicting. So many states are grappling with whether they should add PTSD as a qualifying condition or not, because there is conflicting data. I can say personally that my patients are much more high functioning on cannabis—the cannabis they are using seems to be far more effective than any of the conventional treatments that they are trying.
“There are only two FDA approved meds for PTSD right now—Zoloft and paxil,” she added. “When those two meds don’t work, I am allowed to use any ant-psychotics, like lithium, any of the sleep meds, or anti-depressants, but if a physician would recommend cannabis, that would be considered an abomination and a diversion against medical practice. It is essential that we start doing randomized control trails—that’s the gold standard for being able to evaluate the medical benefit of a substance. We need well-designed, randomized control trials that prevent human bias.”
Whether it is through preventing domestic violence in couples or healing its wounds, it is clear that cannabis has a lot of potential to have a meaningful impact on this persistent issue.
Works Cited:
Smith, P. H., Homish, G. G., Collins, R. L, Giovino, G. A., White, H.R., & Leonard, K.E. (2014). “Couples’ marijuana use is inversely related to their intimate partner violence over the first 9 years of marriage.” Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25134048
