Substance use coercion: navigating complex intersections of abuse, agency, and advocacy

Purpose Coercive control is an overarching term describing repeated patterns of psychological, emotional, verbal, sexual, financial and technology-enabled abuse. The term “substance use (SU) coercion” is an aspect of coercive control that identifies how substances can be used as tactics of abuse. This paper, which is both empirical and conceptual, aims to examine whether the language of “substance use coercion” could provide a more nuanced conceptualisation of the intersection of SU with domestic and family violence (DFV) to lay the foundations for enhanced inter-sectoral collaboration. Design/methodology/approach An action research approach, implemented through guided group workshops, was conducted with a Policy Stakeholder Group (PSG) comprising senior representatives primarily from the SU and DFV sectors, as well as those with lived experience. The PSG met six times during 2022 and 2023. Approximately 15 h of audio content were transcribed and thematically analysed. Findings Data analysis identified three key themes: contested understandings of the relationship between violence and SU; the agency of victim-survivors who use substances; and potential for the language of SU coercion to mobilise advocacy, creating a bridge to greater collaboration. In each theme, similarities and differences in inter-sectoral understanding were noted. Originality/value The language of “SU coercion” provides a more sophisticated analytical lens to advance policy and practice beyond notions of co-occurrence or causation towards a stronger foundation for collaboration across sectors.