The aims of this study were
to investigate the type and extent to which women with substance abuse problems
have been exposed to male violence during their lifetime, and to examine
possible differences between women with a residence (WR) and homeless women
(HW).
The total sample included 79 women (WR, n = 35; HW, n = 44; M age = 47.8
years). Of the total sample, 72 women (91%) had experienced different kinds of
male violence, 88% from former partners, and 26% from male friends or
acquaintances.
Of the 72 women, 71% further reported "Countless occasions
of violent events," and 36% had been forced to commit criminal acts.
Abused women who had been forced to commit criminal acts were significantly
more frequently found to be homeless, have reported parental alcohol and/or
drug problems, have witnessed domestic violence in childhood, have been victims
of sexual violence, have used illicit drugs as a dominant preparation, and have
injected illicit drugs. Almost half of the abused women (46%) met criteria for
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where HW showed an almost 4-time higher
risk (RR 3.78) than WR.
In conclusion there is a particular vulnerability in
women with substance abuse to male violence, which has an important impact on
their health status. Thus, from a public health perspective, it is suggested
that for those women who have experienced male violence, treatment protocols
need to include both assessing and addressing the impact of such experience in
relation to substance abuse as well as concomitant health concerns.
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By:
- 1Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden ulla.beijer@ki.se.
- 2Stockholm Centre for Dependency Disorders, Sweden.
- 3Uppsala University, Sweden Innlandet Hospital Trust, Norway.
- 4Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Stockholm University, Sweden.
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