Severity of Violence Against Women by Intimate Partners and Associated Use of Alcohol and/or Illicit Drugs by the Perpetrator

Abstract

One hundred eighty abused women presenting for protective orders or to file assault charges were interviewed. The Severity of Violence Against Women Scale measured threats of abuse and actual physical violence. A questionnaire measured stalking. Additionally, the women were asked if the perpetrator was drunk daily and/or used illicit drugs. Perpetrators were divided into four groups: no alcohol or drug use (33%); alcohol only (19%); drugs only (18%); and alcohol and drugs (30%). Using multivariate analysis and controlling for demographic variables, physical abuse was significantly (p = .005) higher for women with perpetrators who used drugs only (x = 60.4) compared with perpetrators who used alcohol only (x = 47.7). Stalking was significantly (p = .001) higher for perpetrators who used alcohol and drugs (x = 8.2) compared with perpetrators who did not use alcohol or drugs (x = 5.6). To enable abused women to promote their safety, an understanding of the association between substance use and specific types of intimate partner violence is required.