Estimated lifetime rates of partner violence among women in methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs) range between 60% and 75% and rates of current crack/cocaine use among this population vary between 50% and 66%. Despite the high prevalence of both crack/cocaine and partner abuse among women in MMTP's and mounting evidence suggesting that they are interrelated phenomena, studies have yet to disentangle the temporal and multidimensional relationships between partner abuse and crack/cocaine dependence. A few studies have implicated partner abuse as a factor for sexual risk behaviors, further research is needed to explore the bidirectional relationships between partner abuse and sexual risk behaviors among women in MMTPs. Social support factors have been found to moderate drug use and HIV risk behaviors, and a few studies have suggested the importance of social support in helping women to avoid abusive situations and to mitigate the more deleterious effects of abuse such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the influence of social support factors in mitigating the effects of partner abuse among women drug users remains unclear. Addressing these critical knowledge gaps, the proposed study will: 1) use in-depth qualitative methods to explore the relationship dynamics, drug and alcohol use situations and event sequences that culminate in actual episodes of partner violence among women in MMTP's; and 2) determine the prevalence and incidence of partner abuse and longitudinally examine the interrelationships among partner abuse, crack/cocaine use, sexual risk behavior, PTSD and social networks and support over time. The qualitative study, conducted early in the first year, will include 150 women on methadone who have recently experienced partner abuse, and who will participate in focus groups. An additional 50 abused women will participate in gender script interviews. For the longitudinal study beginning late in the first year, 750 women will be recruited and then pretested with a six and twelve month follow-up. All study participants will be recruited from Beth Israel Medical Center MMTP's in Harlem. Data from the proposed study may inform the assessment, treatment and referral protocols used by MMTP's staff to meet the diverse needs of their patients. The research will be led by investigators from the Social Intervention Group at Columbia University School of Social Work and conducted collaboratively with Beth Israel Medical Center and the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies of the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA011027-02
Application #
2700924
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Project Start
1997-05-15
Project End
2000-04-30
Budget Start
1998-05-01
Budget End
1999-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Social Work
DUNS #
064931884
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10027
Engstrom, Malitta; Winham, Katherine; Gilbert, Louisa (2016) Types and Characteristics of Childhood Sexual Abuse: How Do They Matter in HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Women in Methadone Treatment in New York City? Subst Use Misuse 51:277-94
Engstrom, Malitta; El-Bassel, Nabila; Gilbert, Louisa (2012) Childhood sexual abuse characteristics, intimate partner violence exposure, and psychological distress among women in methadone treatment. J Subst Abuse Treat 43:366-76
Gilbert, Louisa; El-Bassel, Nabila; Chang, Mingway et al. (2012) Substance use and partner violence among urban women seeking emergency care. Psychol Addict Behav 26:226-35
Engstrom, Malitta; Shibusawa, Tazuko; El-Bassel, Nabila et al. (2011) Age and HIV sexual risk among women in methadone treatment. AIDS Behav 15:103-13
Epperson, Matthew W; Khan, Maria R; Miller, Daniel P et al. (2010) Assessing criminal justice involvement as an indicator of human immunodeficiency virus risk among women in methadone treatment. J Subst Abuse Treat 38:375-83
Panchanadeswaran, Subadra; El-Bassel, Nabila; Gilbert, Louisa et al. (2008) An examination of the perceived social support levels of women in methadone maintenance treatment programs who experience various forms of intimate partner violence. Womens Health Issues 18:35-43
Wu, Elwin; El-Bassel, Nabila; Gilbert, Louisa et al. (2006) Dyadic HIV status and psychological distress among women on methadone. Womens Health Issues 16:113-21
Schiff, Miriam; Gilbert, Louisa; El-Bassel, Nabila (2006) Perceived positive aspects of intimate relationships among abused women in methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTP). J Interpers Violence 21:121-38
El-Bassel, Nabila; Gilbert, Louisa; Wu, Elwin et al. (2005) HIV and intimate partner violence among methadone-maintained women in New York City. Soc Sci Med 61:171-83
Hearn, Kimberly D; O'Sullivan, Lucia F; El-Bassel, Nabila et al. (2005) Intimate partner violence and monogamy among women in methadone treatment. AIDS Behav 9:177-86

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