Women and violence: A different look

The incidents of violence involving women and the use of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) among women has increased at an alarming rate. In spite of this, little research has been conducted on the role (i.e., perpetrator vs. victim) that drug using women assume in different episodes and/or settings of violence, and with whom these violent encounters occur. This study describes the self reported life experience of violent encounters of 98 women enrolled in a residential drug treatment center in Tucson, Arizona. Results of the study indicate that many of the women were both the perpetrators and victims of violence. Additionally, the results indicate that aggressive acts from or against others may, in part, be related to the amount of power or control that women had in the relationship as well as the setting in which the violence occurred.