When news came out that Whitney Houston died I was as stunned as the rest of the world. She was a lady who had nothing but potential and then her world started crumbling. Her use of drugs, alcohol and her life as an abused woman is well documented through media reports and legal filings.
No one knows what causes a person to turn to alcohol or drugs just as no one knows what caused the death of Whitney Houston yet. Speculation, talk and rumors can be far from the truth. Some fans blame the pressures of stardom and others blame her ex-husband Bobby Brown.
What we do know is that Whitney Houston was a battered woman. In this regard, she was far from being alone. In the United States a woman is battered every 15 seconds by someone she loves. Every 15 seconds.
From an abuse standpoint alone it is no surprise that drugs are involved. Substance and domestic violence are evil partners in a dangerous relationship.
Abusers sometimes use the excuse of being high on drugs or alcohol as the reason for battering. Survivors sometimes respond by turning to drugs or alcohol as a way to diminish the emotional and physical pain from domestic violence. Drug use can be a vicious part in the revolving carousel of domestic violence.
Whitney Houston had a few things going for her that some domestic violence victims do not have. After she left the abusive relationship she was able to earn a living. There are some indications that her family was supportive of her. Just as importantly, some of the abuse that she suffered was documented.
Documenting abuse can be vital for every victim of domestic violence. A new website called Document the Abuse gives tools so survivors of abuse can do just that. The steps outlined on the site take a survivor through the process of creating an Evidentary Abuse Affidavit. The process to create the affidavit utilizes pictures, records and the creation of a short video to document the abuse.
The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit can be helpful in case the evidence is needed for legal prosecution. Most importantly, documenting the abuse can change the life of a survivor. It can provide needed empowerment when a survivor of domestic violence needs it the most.
Is this something that you are interested in learning more about? To find out more about creating an Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit, visit the website for Document the Abuse.
