All research information and facts are from the US National Library of Medicine and the W.H.O articles on Domestic Violence – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4582621/
Updated for 2025
Three years later after all the chaos of the Pandemic, there has been an outbreak of another kind, its Domestic Violence and it has hit an all-time high. Spousal abuse, child violence and abuse and just about any other domestic crime is on the rise.
Put into the mix a global pandemic, then add stay at home orders, along with social distancing and a tad of stir crazy. It’s enough to stress out anyone, and it has. Stress leads to vises like drinking and drug use, which in turn leads to more violence. Human behavior is a fragile thing, and it does not take a lot to throw someone over the edge, many alcoholics and drug users speak of how their lives were going great and before they knew it, they were hooked on some form of drug or alcohol use. Just the stress from our daily lives, our jobs, is enough to cause many to drink on a regular basis.
The Focus
We will mainly focus on alcohol and alcoholism for this article, as most of the domestic abuse is from the middle age demographic as most do not do illegal drugs, the illegal drugs demographic is average age 25 but varies from mid-teens to 30’s and beyond.
Alcohol plays a big part in domestic violence, studies show men are 3 time more likely to abuse their wives and children while intoxicated.
According to the WHO Domestic violence is defined as “every act or omission committed by some family member in a position of power, regardless of where it occurs, which harms the well-being, physical or psychological integrity, or freedom and right to full development of another family member”
The WHO states that violent acts can be classified based on their type, including acts of physical and psychological abuse as well as sexual violence.
Article Link
They can also be expressed as any form of neglect and abandonment- WHO Article Link . In family settings, violence and abuse can occur within relationships, including those with children, men, women, and the elderly – WHO Article link [link]. With increased emphasis on the victimization of women within partnerships researchers recognize that women are sometimes the aggressor in the relationship and with regard to their children.
Domestic violence and alcohol Many studies suggest that the relationship between alcohol consumption and violent behavior is a strong one. Although it is not possible to establish a simple or directly definable association to alcohol consumption due to its complexity of the relationship
WHO PDF link https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/44173/9789241598408_eng.pdf
A study based in Brazil found evidence that the aggressor was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the event in over 50% of the cases of domestic violence.
The information includes other studies that suggest an association between alcohol consumption and violent behavior among intimate partners. Although a few studies have suggested that alcohol consumption is responsible for the severity of violence acts rather than the increases in acts of violence.
Others have made suggestions that it could be related to both an increase in overall domestic violence and the severity of the acts, and that association between alcohol and violence is more intense with increased consumption. An understanding of how alcohol might be related to the severity of domestic violence, you must consider both the physical effects and the social aspects that may influence alcoholic patterns and violent behavior.
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol plays a factor for violent acts because it has direct effects on physical and cognitive performances. It reduces self-control which leads to more violence as well as affecting our ability to make sound judgment and the signs of danger. It is also possible that harmful amounts of alcohol is a coping mechanism used by victims to cope with stress caused by violent situations. Although strong associations seem exist between domestic violence and alcohol abuse among women, few studies have been conducted regarding the peculiarities of this association, especially in developing countries such as Brazil. Given this association, the WHO recommends measures to reduce the availability and the harmful consumption of alcohol as important strategies to prevent violence.
Mental Disorders
There is some evidence on the success of brief interventions (BIs) in reducing various forms of violence, including domestic violence [1]. The virus has set the perfect condition for domestic abusers, forced families to stay home, caused great stress over contracting the disease, the stress of job security or losing your job altogether and the stand down orders for law enforcement to only go to emergency calls. And given 80% of the time abuse goes unreported anyway, its like giving criminals free rain to abuse their families. It is a well known fact that that domestic violence grows when families spend more waking hours together.
Personal Crisis
Domestic violence Many psychologist warned of the impending crisis the stay at home orders would cause. I guess Government was to busy playing catch up to the virus to worry about what might happen… Studies show that abusers are much more likely to kill their family members, when in a personal crisis, like job loss and strong financial burden, are triggers to set abusers over the edge and kill.
In case you or a loved one has been abused, here are some resources listed below You’re not alone. Confidential help is available for free. National Sexual Assault
Crisis Hotline Information for each State
Crisis Hotlines
Hotline Call 1-800-656-4673 Available 24 hours everyday National Domestic Violence Hotline | Get Help Today | 1-800 … www.thehotline.org National Domestic Violence
Information
Hotline can help victims, survivors of domestic violence. Call 1-800-799-7233.
Below is a state directory for reporting child abuse and neglect State
Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Numbers, State toll-free numbers and websites for specific agencies designated to receive and investigate reports of suspected child abuse and neglect.
States listed below in alphabetical order:
Alabama https://dhr.alabama.gov/child-protective-services/child-abuse-neglect-reporting/ Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Child help (800-422-4453) for assistance.
Alaska Toll-Free: (800) 478-4444
Email: HSS.DBH@Alaska.gov http://dhss.alaska.gov/ocs/Pages/default.aspx
To report via email: ReportChildAbuse@alaska.gov
Arizona Toll-Free: (888) SOS-CHILD (888-767-2445) https://dcs.az.gov/ Arizona’s Online Reporting Service for Mandated Reporters via secure website in non-emergency cases:https://dcs.az.gov/report-child-abuse
Arkansas Toll-Free: (800) 482-5964 https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/
California https://www.cdss.ca.gov/reporting/report-abuse/child-protective-services/report-child-abuse
Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.
Colorado Phone: 1-844-264-5437 Phone: (303) 866-5700 https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs
Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.
Connecticut Toll-Free: (800) 842-2288 TDD: (800) 624-5518 https://portal.ct.gov/DCF
Delaware Toll-Free: (800) 292-9582 https://kids.delaware.gov/ Online reporting https://kids.delaware.gov/fs/fs_iseethesigns.shtml
District of Columbia Local (toll): (202) 671-SAFE (202-671-7233) https://cfsa.dc.gov/service/report-child-abuse-and-neglect
Florida Toll-Free: (800) 96-ABUSE (800-962-2873) https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/abuse-hotline/ external link(opens in new window) Online Reporting http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/abuse-hotline
Georgia Phone: (404) 657-3433 https://dfcs.georgia.gov/services/child-abuse-neglect Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance. Guam Phone: (671) 475-2672 Phone: (671) 475-2653
Hawaii Local (toll): (808) 832-5300 http://humanservices.hawaii.gov/ssd/home/child-welfare-services/ Idaho Phone: (208) 334-5437 Toll-Free: (800) 926-2588 https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Children/AbuseNeglect/ ChildProtectionContactPhoneNumb rs/tabid/475/Default.aspx
Illinois Toll-Free: (800) 252-2873 Local (toll): (217) 524-2606 https://www2.illinois.gov/dcfs/safekids/reporting/Pages/index.aspx Mandated reporters may use the online child abuse reporting system in non-emergency situations.
Indiana Toll-Free: (800) 800-5556 https://www.in.gov/dcs/ Iowa Toll-Free: (800) 362-2178 https://dhs.iowa.gov/home
Kansas Toll-Free: (800) 922-5330 http://www.dcf.ks.gov/Pages/Report-Abuse-or-Neglect.aspx Online reporting for mandated reporters in non-emergency situations http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/PPS/Pages/KIPS/KIPSWebIntake.asp
Kentucky Toll-Free: (877) 597-2331 https://prdweb.chfs.ky.gov/ReportAbuse/Home.aspx
Louisiana Toll-Free: (855) 452-5437 http://dss.louisiana.gov/page/109 Online reporting portal for mandated reporters in non-emergency situations https://mr.dcfs.la.gov/c/MR_PortalApp.app Maine Toll-Free: (800) 452-1999 TTY: (800) 963-9490 https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/hotlines.htm
Maryland http://dhr.maryland.gov/child-protective-services/reporting-suspected-child-abuse-or-neglect/local-offices/ Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.
Massachusetts Toll-Free: (800) 792-5200 https://www.mass.gov/child-abuse-and-neglect Michigan Toll-Free: (855) 444-3911 Fax: (616) 977-1154 https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-73971_7119—,00.html Mandated Reporter online reporting system coming soon
Minnesota https://mn.gov/dhs/report-abuse/ Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.
Mississippi Phone: (601) 432-4570 Toll-Free: (800) 222-8000 https://www.mdcps.ms.gov/report-child-abuse-neglect/ https://reportabuse.mdcps.ms.gov/ Reporting via online system or by downloading the MDCPS Report Child Abuse mobile app https://www.mdcps.ms.gov/report-child-abuse-neglect/
Missouri Toll-Free: (800) 392-3738 https://dss.mo.gov/cd/keeping-kids-safe/can.htm Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.Online reporting for mandated reporters in non-emergency situations: https://dss.mo.gov/cd/keeping-kids-safe/can.htm
Montana Toll-Free: (866) 820-5437 https://dphhs.mt.gov/cfsd/index Nebraska Phone: (402) 471-3121 Toll-Free: (800) 652-1999 http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Child-Abuse.aspx Nevada http://dcfs.nv.gov/Programs/CWS/CPS/CPS/ Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.
New Hampshire Phone: (603) 271-6562 Toll-Free: (800) 894-5533 https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/cps/stop.htm New Jersey Toll-Free: (877) 652-2873 TDD: (800) 835-5510 TTY: (800) 835-5510 https://www.nj.gov/dcf/reporting/hotline/
New Mexico Toll-Free: (855) 333-7233 https://cyfd.org/
New York Toll-Free: (800) 342-3720 TDD: (800) 369-2437 Local (toll): (518) 474-8740 https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cps/Default.asp North Carolina https://www.ncdhhs.gov/ Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.
North Dakota http://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/childfamily/cps/#reporting Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance. Ohio Toll-Free: (855) 642-4453 http://jfs.ohio.gov/ocf/reportchildabuseandneglect.stm
Oklahoma Toll-Free: (800) 522-3511 https://www.ok.gov/health/Family_Health/Family_Support_and_Prevention_Service/ Oklahoma_Child_Abuse_Hotline/index.html
Oregon Toll-Free: (855) 503-SAFE (7233) https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/children/child-abuse/Pages/Reporting-Numbers.aspx Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.
Pennsylvania Toll-Free: (800) 932-0313 TDD: (866) 872-1677 https://www.dhs.pa.gov/contact/Pages/Report-Abuse.aspx Online reporting portal for mandated reporters in non-emergency situations https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/homeexternal link(opens in new window)
Puerto Rico Toll-Free: (800) 981-8333 Local (toll): (787) 749-1333 Rhode Island Phone: (401) 528-3500 Toll-Free: (800) RI-CHILD (800-742-4453) http://www.dcyf.ri.gov/child-protective-services/
South Carolina Local (toll): (803) 898-7318 https://dss.sc.gov/abuseneglect/report-child-abuse-and-neglect/ Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.
South Dakota TTY: (877) 244-0864 https://dss.sd.gov/childprotection/ Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.
Tennessee Toll-Free: (877) 237-0004 https://www.tn.gov/dcs/program-areas/child-safety/reporting/child-abuse.html Online reporting https://apps.tn.gov/carat/
Texas Toll-Free: (800) 252-5400 https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Contact_Us/report_abuse.asp
Online reporting https://www.txabusehotline.org/Login/Default.aspx
U.S. Virgin Islands Virgin Islands http://www.dhs.gov.vi/contact/index.html
Utah Phone: 1-855-323-3237 https://dcfs.utah.gov/
Vermont After hours: (800) 649-5285 https://dcf.vermont.gov/protection/reporting
Virginia Toll-Free: (800) 552-7096 Local (toll): (804) 786-8536 https://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cps/index.cgi
Washington Toll-Free: (866) END-HARM (866-363-4276) Toll-Free: (800) 562-5624 TTY: (800) 624-6186 https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/safety/report-abuse
West Virginia Toll-Free: (800) 352-6513 https://dhhr.wv.gov/bcf/Services/Pages/Centralized-Intake-for-Abuse-and-Neglect.aspx
Wisconsin https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/reportabuse
Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.
Wyoming https://www.wyomingcac.org/prevent-child-abuse/reporting-child-abuse
Click on the website above for information on reporting or call Childhelp (800-422-4453) for assistance.
Its a long list be we covered most states and territories. Please call one of the number listed above if you’re being abused don’t wait!
Author – Bill Petros
Contributor – Katie Jane
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