Alcohol use among partner violent adults: Reviewing recent literature to inform intervention

Intimate partner violence is widely recognized as a public health problem. Although intervention programs exist for partner violent persons, there are discrepancies in the literature regarding the effectiveness of such programs. Current standards of treatment have been depicted as “one-size-fits-all,” lending credence to the notion that program goals are admirable, but incongruent with the heterogeneous needs, such as substance abuse treatment, of their clientele. This review of recent literature describes the role of alcohol in adult IPV commission. The author used two databases (Web of Science and PsycInfo), which retrieved 50 unduplicated articles published between January 2009 and April 2012. Eight articles were ultimately identified for further examination. The prevalence of alcohol within partner violence commission is presented in detail as well as future research and practice implications.

► Continued research on alcohol and intimate partner violence (IPV) is needed.
► Alcohol remains prevalent in the lives of many partner violent persons.
► Substance abuse and IPV are not standardly addressed in one treatment context.
► Novel interventions are needed to address alcohol misuse within the context of IPV.