Uncovering Hidden Harms in Intimate Partner Violence Linked to Alcohol and Drug Use

Recent research highlights significant disparities in the occurrence and severity of intimate partner violence (IPV) involving alcohol and other substances, particularly affecting vulnerable populations. Using data from Australia's pioneering National Ambulance Surveillance System (NASS), scientists from Monash University and Turning Point analyzed 1,484 ambulance attendances for IPV victims in Victoria from 2016 to 2018. Their findings reveal that individuals in socio-economically disadvantaged regions are over three and a half times more likely to experience ambulance callouts related to alcohol or drug-involved IPV compared to those in more advantaged areas.

Moreover, residents of regional and remote communities face higher risks, with incidents 58% more frequent in outer regional areas and 48% more in inner regional zones, compared to urban centers. The majority of these cases involve women (84.4%), especially women aged 25-34, with 67% requiring hospital transportation.

Dr. Rowan Ogeil, lead author and expert in addiction and mental health surveillance, emphasizes that such data unveil often overlooked harms, especially in rural and remote settings where services are limited. He notes that factors like lack of public transportation, geographical isolation, and limited after-hours support services make ambulance assistance a critical resource.

This study underscores the importance of using ambulance and emergency data to better understand the true extent of IPV related to alcohol and substance use, which traditional reporting systems often miss. Tackling this complex social health issue requires coordinated efforts across healthcare and social services to focus on prevention, support, and reducing disparities.

For more details, the full study is published in Health & Place: Link.