Substance Use by Soldiers Who Abuse Their Spouses

• Published in: Violence against women Vol. 16; no. 11; pp. 1295 - 1310
• Main Authors: Martin, Sandra L., Gibbs, Deborah A., Johnson, Ruby E., Sullivan, Kristen, Clinton-Sherrod, Monique, Walters, Jennifer L. Hardison, Rentz, E. Danielle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.2010; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; Aggression - drug effects; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol Drinking - legislation & jurisprudence; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Armed forces; Armies; Behavior Control; Criminals - legislation & jurisprudence; Criminals - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Domestic violence; Drug abuse; Drug use; Drugs; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Males; Military Personnel; Military Personnel - legislation & jurisprudence; Military Personnel - psychology; Offenders; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Soldiers; Spouse Abuse; Spouse Abuse - ethnology; Spouse Abuse - legislation & jurisprudence; Spouse Abuse - prevention & control; Substance Abuse; Substance use; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Substance-Related Disorders - therapy; United States - epidemiology; Whites; United States; alcohol; intimate partner v iolence; substance use; Army; drugs; soldier; spouse abuse; v iolence
• ISSN: 1077-8012; 1552-8448
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801210387038

Data on 7,424 soldier spouse abuse offenders were analyzed to determine the prev alence of substance use during abusiv e incidents, and to examine differences between substance-using and non-substance-using offenders. Results showed that 25% of all offenders used substances during abusiv e incidents, with males and non-Hispanic Whites being more likely to hav e used substances. Substance-using offenders were more likely to perpetrate physical spouse abuse and more sev ere spouse abuse. These findings underscore the importance of educating military personnel (including commanders) about links between substance use and domestic v iolence, and of coordinating prev entiv e and therapeutic substance abuse and v iolence-related interv entions.