Co-morbid Substance Use and Family Violence

Alcohol and drug-use has a high level of co-morbidity with family violence. Substance use can both trigger and intensify instances of family violence, while experiences of family violence can contribute to the development and perpetuation of substance use disorders. The interplay between substance use and family violence is characterized by its complexity and the profound impact on individuals, families, and communities.

The goal of this research topic is to gather a comprehensive body of research that explores the multifaceted relationship between substance use and various forms of family violence, including intimate partner violence, child abuse, child-to-parent violence, elder abuse, and sibling violence. Papers examining potential interventions for co-morbid substance use and family violence are also highly encouraged.

This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding on the co-occurrence of substance use and family violence, emphasizing both the theoretical and practical implications and to provide researchers and practitioners with the current state of evidence on co-morbid substance use and family violence, to inform future research, practice, and policy.

Suggested themes for submissions include (but are not limited to):

- Prevalence and patterns of co-morbid substance use and family violence, highlighting demographic, socio-economic, and cultural factors.
- Causal pathways and underlying mechanisms linking substance use to family violence and vice versa.
- Physical, psychological, and socio-economic impacts of co-morbid substance use and family violence for all those involved, with particular attention to vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals with mental health disorders.
- Evaluation of interventions for family violence and substance use and factors contributing to effectiveness and responsivity (including those involving community-based, forensic and justice and school-based interventions).

Keywords: comorbidity, comorbid, family violence, substance use

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.