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

Abstract

Background: Cocaine use increases worldwide and has been associated with behavioral disorders, including aggression, as well as a heightened vulnerability. The study aimed to investigate whether cocaine use is associated with self-reported intimate partner violence (IPV) among patients seeking treatment in addiction facilities.

Objectives: Self-reported questionnaires assessing IPV perpetration and exposure, childhood maltreatment exposure, current substance use, behavioral addictions and pharmacological treatments were proposed to consecutive patients in addiction facilities (both inpatients and outpatients) across two French regions. Association between self-report IPV victimization or perpetration and treatment seeking for cocaine use were analyzed using chi-squared tests.

Results: A total of 210 patients completed the questionnaires (33.3% women). Thirty-four patients (16.2%) reported cocaine as their primary reason for seeking treatment. Sixty-five (31.0%) self-reported being victims IPV, while 37 (17.6%) identified as perpetrators within the past twelve months. A significant association was observed between consulting for problematic cocaine use and reporting being victim of physical violence (p = 0.02) or perpetrator of any type of violence (p = 0.049). Among patients consulting for problematic cocaine use, significant associations were also identified between reporting being a victim of IPV and use of anxiolytics in the last twelve months (p = 0.003) or being prescribed benzodiazepine (p = 0.048) while reporting being a perpetrator of IPV was associated with use of analgesics in the last twelve months (p = 0.01).

Conclusions: Problematic cocaine use as a reason for seeking treatment was found to be associated with IPV among patients in care. Screening and appropriate intervention for both IPV exposure and perpetration should be systematic in addiction facilities.

Keywords: Intimate partner violence; analgesics; anxiolytics; cocaine; social problems; substance use disorder.