Have read all the sad comments about all the abuse and its terrible effects. Was thinking more what the causes are, however. What causes people to actually begin to carry out this abuse? Where and why does it start? and what can we do to remove the abuse at its earliest point? Guess the answers will be depressing to read. I personally believe that, if you look at abuse as an equation (ie abuser + x = abused victim) then x will very often turn out be "alcohol" . In other words, alcohol is not the cause of abuse but a very common "requirement" in order for the abuse to take place. Anyone agree with this or is it too simple a view on an immensly complicated subject?