Partner violence and substance abuse: Treatment interventions

Partner violence is a serious public health issue. For couples who enter treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, rates of partner aggression are alarmingly high, with 53% to 63% of couples reporting one or more episodes of partner violence in the year prior to program entry (Murphy & O'Farrell, 1994; Murphy, O'Farrell, Fals-Stewart, & Feeham, 2001; Stuart et al., 2003). Indeed, one of the most challenging clinical issues faced by therapists who treat substance-abusing patients is intimate partner violence (IPV). This review describes the link between substance abuse (alcohol and drug) and partner violence and identifies treatment strategies for providers working with these clients.