Drug Use Is No Excuse When It Comes To Violent Tendencies

The role of drugs in intimate partner violence is more complex than one of cause and effect

It hasn't taken long for drug use to be raised in the Depp v Heard trial. After all, celebrity and drug use is taken for granted sometimes; fame appearing to provide both the means and access to all manner of substances. But the role of drugs in this trial is a much more sinister one. Amber Heard alleges Johnny Depp went on drug binges, disappearing for days at a time and returning “drunk, high and angry”.

Depp himself admits having used strong opiates like Roxicodone, alcohol and cocaine, but insists that he has a healthier relationship with these substances than he had in the past. This is contested by Amber Heard as she believes his use of drugs was instrumental in the violence she suffered during their relationship.

Not for the first time, drugs are used to explain violence and, in this case, it is suggested they act as a trigger for domestic violence. There is a strong association between intimate partner abuse and drugs including alcohol. The data is overwhelming and depressing: 40-60 per cent of cases of domestic violence involve drugs. An estimated 70 per cent of victims are more likely to drink alcohol excessively compared to peers who haven't experienced abuse.