Drug abuse and partner violence among women in methadone treatment

This study aims to (I) describe rates of lifetime and current partner abuse among women on methadone; (2) examine the relationship between partner vio lence and demographics, substance abuse, and drug risk behaviors; and (3) e xplore the association between a victim's current use of crack/cocaine, her oin, marijuana, and drug risk behavior after controlling for demographics, household composition, history of victimization and sex trading. Approximat ely three-fourths of the women ever experienced physical sexual, or life-th reatening abuse and slightly less than one-third experienced at least one t ype of abuse during the previous year. A history of childhood victimization was reported by more than half of the women and one-third witnessed her mo ther being abused Risk of partner violence was associated with victim's cur rent drug and alcohol use, visiting shooting galleries, and living with som eone with drug or alcohol problems. The study discusses the implications of the findings for research and intervention.