Overview
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) refers to instances of physical altercation between partners who are in or used to be in a romantic relationship.
In the general population, 33% of women and 25% of men report being the victim of IPV or domestic violence. Within those seeking treatment for substance use disorders, 1 in 2 women report being the victim of IPV. With men, 30% report having engaged in relationships with mutual physical aggression, while only 1 in 10 identify as victims of IPV. Researchers note that social stigma plays a role in the willingness to report incidents or identify as a victim, so generally it might be reasonable to assume that true rates are higher. Some studies show that between 40 to 60 percent of domestic violence incidents involve substance use as a factor.
It’s not hard to see the connection between substances that amplify intense feelings or inhibited judgment and physical violence as a means of conflict resolution.