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| Perspectives of Client Substance
Abuse and Domestic Violence Among Clinicians Employed
by Opioid Treatment Programs and Domestic Violence Shelters
M. Chu, R. E. Sage, S. Griffing, T. Jospitre, L. Madry,
B. Primm
Urban Resource Institute and Addiction Research and
Treatment Corp., Brooklyn, NY
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Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has been identified as a significant
public health problem among women in drug treatment. The prevalence
rates of physical and sexual IPV among women in drug treatment
have ranged between 25% and 57%. (Brewer, et al. 1998, Chermack,
et al. 2000, El-Bassel, et al 2005) Research has found associations
between experiencing IPV and substance use among women, including
heroin, marijuana, cocaine and alcohol use. (Gilbert, et al.
2006)
The current study evaluated clinicians’ knowledge and
their perspective of issues related to substance abuse (SA)
and domestic violence (DV). Forty seven clinicians employed
in two affiliated agencies, Urban Resource Institute and Addition
Research & Treatment Corporation, in New York City received
a training seminar presenting information and research finding
s regarding the relationship between SA and DV. 32 clinicians
were employed in Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) and 15 in
DV shelters. Results indicated that consistent with other findings,
two thirds of OTP clinicians believed that at least 25% of their
clients have current issues with, or are victims of DV and 79%
of DV clinicians believed that less than 25% of their clients
have current issues with drug or alcohol abuse. More than 90%
of clinicians from both disciplines valued additional cross-training.
Results suggest that improved assessment instruments and enhanced
training for both disciplines may be helpful for identifying
and addressing DV and SA in both populations. Further, improved
SA assessment and training in DV shelters may expose a higher
than reported number of DV victims who are substance abusers,
but not enrolled in a treatment program.
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