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. 2023 Nov;29(14):2730-2753.
doi: 10.1177/10778012231197579. Epub 2023 Sep 4.

The Use of Chemical Control Within Coercive Controlling Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse

Sarah-Jane Walker  1 , Marianne Hester  1 , Elizabeth McCarthy  2
Affiliations

The Use of Chemical Control Within Coercive Controlling Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse

Sarah-Jane Walker et al. Violence Against Women. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

This paper explores the use of chemical control by perpetrators as part of coercive controlling intimate partner violence and abuse, defined as the nonconsenting use of prescribed and nonprescribed medication (including vaccines), and/or other substances to coerce or control, reducing the victim-survivor's capacity for independence, freedom, and health. Based on testimonies of 37 victims-survivors and nine domestic abuse practitioners in the UK we identify varying tactics used to chemically coerce and control, deepening our understanding about the continually changing forms of domestic violence and abuse and enhancing the potential for a more robust response through better informed policy and practice.

Keywords: chemical control; coercive control; domestic abuse; intimate partner violence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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