Addressing the use of intimate partner violence with clients in treatment for alcohol, tobacco and other drug use disorders

It is not unusual for clients in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment use violence in their relationships with intimate partners. However, for the most part, treatment for SUDs does not address this use of violence. Including refraining from violence as part of recovery would enhance safety for clients and their partners. In Massachusetts, it is rare for a SUD treatment program to refer a client to a Batterer Intervention program. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health brought together representatives from the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Abuse Services and the Massachusetts Division of Violence and Injury Prevention, along with other interested parties, to form a Workgroup to consider how best to address the overlap of SUDs and intimate partner violence. Focus groups were conducted with SUD treatment providers, who requested additional training on working with people who use intimate partner violence and how Batterer Intervention Programs operate, as well as a psycho educational module for clients that would result in clients recognizing their need for assistance in this area. Helping Men Recover is a trauma-informed curriculum for working with men in groups that includes a session on intimate partner violence. The Workgroup decided to pilot implementation of this curriculum in conjunction with training for staff on working with men who use violence in relationships in SUD treatment programs. This presentation will present implementation findings and make recommendations for other SUD treatment programs that wish to address the use of intimate partner violence in their programs.