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CHAPTER 10
FAMILY AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Family and social problems were assessed by examining the percent of women reporting having serious family problems; living with someone who drinks or uses illicit drugs; having weak social support; being the victim of domestic violence; being under investigation by child protective services; and need for family treatment. Substance abusing women reported substantial greater family and social problems as presented in Figure 10.A. About one in three (40%) reported experiencing serious family problems in the last month and 20% reported living with someone who drinks or uses drugs. A substantial minority of substance abusers report having low levels of social support: 32% reported spending most of their time alone, 43% reported having no close friends, and 57% reporting being greatly in need of emotional support. Women in the non-affected group reported significantly fewer family and social problems. About one in five women in the non-affected sample reported having a serious family problem or having low levels of social support.
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| [D] |
Figure 10.B reports on domestic violence within the last year. About 86% of the substance abusers had a partner during the past year compared to 59% of the non-affected sample. Substance abusers reported significantly higher rates of domestic violence than the non-affected sample. Differences were greatest in the area of physical violence. About 44% of substance abusers reported being the victim of partner physical violence (e.g., slapped, hit) and 31% reported being the victim of severe physical violence (e.g., beaten up, threatened with a weapon). About 23% of the non-affected sample reported being the victim of physical violence and 10% reported being the victim of severe physical violence.
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| [D] |
Figure 10.C reports on child welfare involvement. About one in three (34%) substance abusers were currently being investigated by child protective services and 84% had been investigated at some point in the past. The average number of investigations, among those ever investigated, was seven. Women in the non-affected sample had significantly less involvement with child protective services: 13% were currently under investigation and 48% had been under investigation at some point in the past. The average number of investigations, among non-affected women ever investigated, was four.
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| [D] |
Figure 10.D reports on need for family treatment. Over half (51%) of substance abusers were rated as requiring some family treatment versus 6 percent for non-affected women.
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| [D] |
Overall, substance abusers had high levels of family and social problems. More than half were rated as requiring family treatment in addition to substance abuse treatment. A significant minority of substance abusers reported serious conflicts with family members, low levels of social support, domestic violence, and were currently under investigation for neglecting or abusing their children. In addition, four in five substance abusers had been under investigation by child protective services at some point in the past. Women in the non-affected sample reported fewer family and social problems. However, about one in 10 reported either being the victim of severe physical violence from a partner or being under investigation by child protective services.
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