Partner Abuse and Women's Substance Problems

Abstract

In this exploratory study, a convenience sample of 125 mostly low-income women of color who were in treatment for problems associated with misusing substances responded to standardized measures and researcher-developed questions about their use of substances and experiences with partner abuse. Most of the women stated that their substance problems began after their first incident of partner abuse and that their misuse of substances occurred before and after specific incidents of partner abuse. The women also described various strengths they had used to cope. Screening for substance problems and partner abuse in all settings, as well as the use of women's strengths in treatment, is suggested.

[…] you feel there’s nowhere left to go: the barriers to support among women who experience substance use and domestic abuse in the UK

“…While these figures offer some indication as to prevalence of co-occurring PSU and DAV, there remains limited data on which to judge the scale of the issue in the UK and, subsequently, to base calls for improved policy and service provision; this is also the case with qualitative literature. While several international qualitative studies have sought to explore the experiences of co-occurring substance use and DAV among women in the past 15 years (Wilson et al, 2017;O'Brien et al, 2016;Abdul-Khabir et al, 2014;Macy et al, 2013;Rivaux et al, 2008;Call and Nelsen, 2007;Nehls and Sallmann, 2005), only one study from the UK (Wright et al, 2007), was identified that focused on the relationship between PSU and DAV in the same time period. Wright et al (2007) interviewed 45 drug using women from an array of substance use services in Northern England and found that the women who used drugs often felt coerced by partners to inject.…”

Helping Students to Understand the Link Between Substance Use and Intimate Partner Violence

“…Although these rates may be indicative of the disinhibition, poor judgment, and poor impulse control behaviors that accompany intoxication (Fals-Stewart & ClintonSherrod, 2009;van Wormer, Mallow, & Ward, 2009), victims of IPV who abuse substances are at greater risk for victimization missing the "social cuing" that signals a dangerous situation. A person might become verbally abusive, placing himself or herself in harm's way if the partner is either intoxicated or has a low frustration tolerance for verbal abuse (Call & Nelsen, 2007). Alcohol or drug use can be a convenient excuse when IPV occurs.…”

“…This is not to assign culpability, but rather to illuminate what else might be happening emotionally and psychologically because of the IPV. Furthermore, the consumption of alcohol or drugs might even predispose the victim to violent outbursts as the cognitive processes and controls against such are weakened by intoxication (Call & Nelsen, 2007;Murphy, Winters, O'Farrell, Fals-Stewart, & Murphy, 2005).…”

Puerto Rican Parenting and Acculturation in Families Experiencing Substance Use and Intimate Partner Violence

“…Findings from national surveys indicate that approximately one in five women is physically assaulted by a current or former partner during her lifetime (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000a, 2000b. Research shows strong correlations between substance abuse and IPV (Call & Nelsen, 2007;Wekerle & Wall, 2002;Wilson-Cohn, Strauss, & Falkin, 2002). Women whose male partners had drug or alcohol problems, or those who reported that both they and their partners had a drug or alcohol problem, were also at increased risk for IPV (Coker, Smith, Bethea, King, & McKeown, 2000).…”