The relationship between intimate partner violence and the use of addictive substances in poor and homeless single mothers

This study examines the contributions of adult partner violence, childhood physical abuse and sexual molestation, post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), and partners' substance use on poor women's use of addictive substances, Utilizing a longitudinal data set, researchers found that women with histories of partner violence had nearly three times the odds of using illegal drugs at follow-up. Reverse causation (i.e., substance use increases the likelihood of violent relationships) did not explain the association. Confounding by childhood sexual molestation and mediation by PTSD also did not fully account for the violence-drug use link. Partners' substance use was independently related to women's follow-up drug and alcohol use. Program and policy implications are reviewed.