The impact of problematic substance use on partners’ interpersonal relationships: qualitative analysis of counselling transcripts from a national online service

A global review of the impact on women from men's alcohol drinking: the need for responding with a gendered lens

BACKGROUND

Global evidence shows that men's harmful alcohol use contributes to intimate partner violence (IPV) and other harms. Yet, interventions that target alcohol-related harms to women are scarce. Quantitative analyses demonstrate links with physical and verbal aggression; however, the specific harms to women from men's drinking have not been well articulated, particularly from an international perspective.

AIM

To document the breadth and nature of harms and impact of men's drinking on women.

METHODS

A narrative review, using inductive analysis, was conducted of peer-reviewed qualitative studies that: (a) focused on alcohol (men's drinking), (b) featured women as primary victims, (c) encompassed direct/indirect harms, and (d) explicitly featured alcohol in the qualitative results. Papers were selected following a non-time-limited systematic search of key scholarly databases.

RESULTS

Thirty papers were included in this review. The majority of studies were conducted in low- to middle-income countries. The harms in the studies were collated and organised under three main themes: (i) harmful alcohol-related actions by men (e.g. violence, sexual coercion, economic abuse), (ii) impact on women (e.g. physical and mental health harm, relationship functioning, social harm), and (iii) how partner alcohol use was framed by women in the studies.

CONCLUSION

Men's drinking results in a multitude of direct, indirect and hidden harms to women that are cumulative, intersecting and entrench women's disempowerment. An explicit gendered lens is needed in prevention efforts to target men's drinking and the impact on women, to improve health and social outcomes for women worldwide.

Youth Experiencing Homelessness with Suicidal Ideation: Understanding Risk Associated with Peer and Family Social Networks

Suicide is the leading cause of death among youth experiencing homelessness, and these youth report high rates of suicide attempts. Research suggests that the interpersonal factors of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness are proximal causes of suicide, but little is known about factors associated with these risks. The current study examined the relationship of social network characteristics, perceived social network support, and interpersonal risks for suicide among a sample of 150 youth experiencing homelessness who reported severe suicide ideation. Findings indicate that characteristics of the social network, including engagement in crime and alcohol use, interrupted the potentially protective effects of high perceived social network support for interpersonal risk factors of suicide. Findings imply that increasing perceived social network support as a protection against suicide will not be uniformly successful, and consideration of the social network characteristics is necessary. Future work needs to continue to uncover the complexity of modifiable intervention targets to prevent future suicide attempts among this high-risk group.

Coping with a loved one's substance use disorder or gambling disorder: what strategies really help?

Family members of people with substance use or gambling disorders (SUD/GD) struggle to cope with ongoing impacts to family life. Effective coping is critical but it is unclear which strategies are helpful for family members, as research is lacking. Female spouses/partners of people with SUD/GD (N=211) reported helpfulness and use of engaged, tolerant, and withdrawal coping strategies. Withdrawal coping was most helpful, and commonly used. Some engaged coping strategies were unhelpful but frequently used. Coping is complex; research is needed into effective coping for differing goals and contexts Professionals should empower family members to use strategies helpful to their well-being.

The salience of intimate partner violence to coping and social support for intimate partners of people with addictions

Intimate partners of people with addictions experience significant strain, which coping and social support may reduce. They are also at increased risk for intimate partner violence (IPV: violence/abuse and coercive control), but IPV's effects on coping and social support are unclear. This study tested the salience of IPV to the Stress-Strain-Coping-Support model, using moderated mediation models with 222 intimate partners of people with addictions. Social support and coping worked differently for each type of strain. Coercive control moderated informal social support's buffering effect for anxiety and depression. Professionals assisting intimate partners should screen for IPV and offer flexible support programs.

Online Interventions for the Selective Prevention of Illicit Drug Use in Young Drug Users: Exploratory Study

Background

Digital technologies have a major impact on the daily lives of young people and are also used to seek information on and help with drug-related issues online.

Objective

The aim of this article was to analyze current online interventions for young drug users in Slovenia, with the purpose of contributing to the development of guidelines and key recommendations for effective online interventions.

Methods

This study was part of the project Click for Support. We performed a keyword search, received input from national experts in the field of drug prevention, and conducted an assessment of recognized national online interventions through workshop-based discussions with the target group of 20 young drug users.

Results

The current online intervention services in Slovenia are satisfactory but are still not sufficiently recognized. The most important issues for young drug users were the design and functionality of the online intervention, presence of a clear structure, possibility of using it on smartphones, comprehensive and quick professional feedback, and data security. Playful elements and the ability to share (experiences) with other or former users were also recognized as important.

Conclusions

With effective online interventions, we can include more young drug users, facilitate access to a more affordable service, provide quick professional feedback on patterns of consumption, increase knowledge about the effects and consequences of drugs, and support the reduction or cessation of drug use. From the public health perspective, it is challenging to provide drug interventions broadly to the target group and, hence, decrease inequities.