Alcohol and Drug Use among Abused Women Who Kill, Abused Women Who Don't, and Their Abusers

Abstract

Interviews were conducted with forty-two women with extensive abuse histories who had killed their intimates and fifty-nine women with similar abuse histories who were in shelters for battered women. Controlling for demographic and other differences, analyses indicated that alcohol and other drug use ably distinguished between the two groups of women (correctly classifying 89% of the cases), and that alcohol use was more salient than other drug use. The partner's alcohol use and the respondent's alcohol use were significantly higher among the intimate homicide group, suggesting an association between intimate homicide and alcohol use. Alcohol counseling should, therefore, be a significant part of programs for both battered women and for men who batter.