Helping students to understand the link between substance use and intimate partner violence

Students studying addictive diseases must come to understand, among other issues, the interplay between intimate partner violence (IPV) and substance abuse. Statistics are important, but case examples elucidate for the students what to listen for in their meetings with clients. The purpose of this article is to provide several case examples of addiction and IPV and the connection between the two, and to promote classroom discussion as to how to intervene when both issues are present in a client's life.