The relationship between battering and alcohol abuse has been recognized but little research has been done on the incidence of combined drug and alcohol abuse among men who batter. This exploratory study is based on data obtained from the intake records of 234 male batterers who had charges filed against them at the Marion County Prosecutor's Office in Indianapolis. The findings show that men who were charged with Battery A (the more violent offenses) were considerably more likely than those charged with Battery B to have either a drug problem or dual alcohol and drug problem.
This article concludes by suggesting the need for well-coordinated interagency treatment programs. It also documents the need for establishing valid assessment instruments that have the potential for identifying high risk chemically dependent batterers.
The author gratefully acknowledges the technical assistance and useful comments of Professors Gerald T. Powers and Linda Kurtz as well as Steve Goldsmith (Prosecutor) of the Marion County Prosecutor's Office in Indianapolis.
