Screening for Co-Occurring Intimate Partner Abuse and Substance Abuse: Challenges Across Service Delivery Systems

Abstract

Substance use problems among women survivors of intimate partner abuse (IPA) present unique challenges in screening for the co-occurrence of these 2 issues. The lack of coordinated efforts and integrated services is startling given the prevalence and subsequent risks among those who suffer at the crossroads of these 2 complex and interrelated problems. This article critically examines the issues in screening to identify IPA victimization and substance abuse in selected service delivery systems. The philosophical, programmatic, and policy implications for the implementation of integrated screening and intervention across these service delivery systems are discussed as a more comprehensive approach to helping women IPA survivors who abuse substances.

KEYWORDS:

• domestic violence
• intimate partner abuse
• screening
• service delivery
• substance abuse
• women

Preparation for this article was funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The author thanks Dr. Diana DiNitto for her review and helpful comments on an earlier version of this article.