Sexual Coercion and Substance Use among Drug-Using Women: An Event Analysis

Abstract

An event analysis was conducted to examine the associations between substance use and sexual coercion at most recent sexual encounter among a sample of street-recruited drug-using women. Drug-using women (n = 261) were interviewed regarding their most recent sexual encounter with a man. Illicit drugs used in the 30 days prior to interview were crack (94%), other forms of cocaine (51%), and heroin or other opiates (30%); nearly half reported having injected any drug in the previous 30 days. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to assess the unique associations between the presence of any sexual coercion at this event and (a) the woman's alcohol intoxication level, (b) the woman's drug intoxication level, (c) her male partner's alcohol intoxication level, and (d) her male partner's drug intoxication level. Controlling for demographic variables and prior verbal and physical abuse from the most recent partner, women's reports of their partners' drug and alcohol intoxication levels were significantly associated with sexual coercion at most recent sexual encounter. Interventions aimed at reducing drug-using women's risk of sexual abuse and STDs need to consider ways of targeting the male partners' substance use during sex without compromising the women's safety.