Is Cocaine Use Associated with Intimate Partner Violence in Patients from Addiction Centers?

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Cocaine use is increasing globally, correlating with behavioral issues and vulnerability.
• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern.
• The link between cocaine use and IPV requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between cocaine use and self-reported intimate partner violence (IPV) among patients in addiction treatment facilities.
• To determine if seeking treatment for cocaine use correlates with IPV victimization or perpetration.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 210 patients in French addiction facilities.
• Self-reported questionnaires assessed IPV, childhood maltreatment, substance use, and treatments.
• Chi-squared tests analyzed associations between cocaine treatment seeking and IPV.

Main Results:

• Of 210 patients, 16.2% sought treatment for cocaine use.
• 31.0% reported IPV victimization and 17.6% perpetration in the past year.
• Problematic cocaine use was significantly associated with being a victim of physical violence (p=0.02) and a perpetrator of any violence (p=0.049).

Conclusions:

• Problematic cocaine use is associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) in patients undergoing addiction treatment.
• Systematic screening for IPV exposure and perpetration is crucial in addiction facilities.
• Interventions addressing both IPV and substance use are needed for comprehensive patient care.