An analysis of how violence affects the lives of pregnant, low-income women was undertaken, drawing from needs assessment data from two diverse California counties. Self-report screening was used to determine risk for heavier or problem substance use. Of 1,147 women, 401 met the screening threshold. The 401 at-risk respondents report significantly higher levels of substance-related violence when compared to the other 746 respondents. Among all respondents, neighborhood substance-related problems, being United States-born, meeting the screening threshold, and being a woman of color were associated with reported substance-related violence among acquaintances. Among the substance-involved sample, neighborhood drug problems, being a woman of color, and being hurt, beaten or taken advantage of due to drugs were associated with violence reports. The implications are that substance-related violence prevention strategies need to focus on the community as well as on the individual and the family.
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