Drinking, not drugging: Substance use and cumulative experiences of abuse in a community sample of women after leaving abusive male partners

Varcoe, Colleen

Friday, March 30, 2012: 10:20 AM-10:40 AM

Yerba Buena Salon 7 (San Francisco Marriott Marquis)

Speaker:
Colleen Varcoe, RN, BSN, MEd, MSN, PhD, University of British Columbia

Authors:
Pamela Ponic, PHD, University of British Columbia
Judith Wuest, RN, PhD, University of New Brunswick.
Marilyn Ford-Gilboe, RN, PhD, University of Western Ontario

Presentation Format:
Poster

Learning Objectives:

differentiate between patterns of cumulative abuse (ranging from partner violence dominant, to multiple forms of extreme abuse)
understand the relationship between different patterns of cumulative abuse and high risk drinking
discuss the research, policy and practice implications of the high levels of high risk drinking, and the association of such drinking with multiple forms of abuse

Description:
This study explored substance use in a community sample of 309 women who had left abusive partners an average 20 months prior to first interview. Illegal drug use was primarily limited to marijuana use, but was higher than population levels. At first interview, 26% and at second interview 24% reported high risk drinking. Using latent classes of patterns of cumulative abuse identified previously, we found that women’s reports of high risk drinking varied significantly with the different patterns.