Crime victims’ self-medication
| Date | 01 May 2017 |
| Author | Willem de Lint,Adam Pocrnic,Marinella Marmo,Andrew Groves |
| DOI | 10.1177/0269758016686280 |
| Published date | 01 May 2017 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Crime victims’ self-medication:
Findings from a study in
South Australia
Willem de Lint
Flinders Law School, Australia
Marinella Marmo
Flinders Law School, Australia
Andrew Groves
Deakin University, Australia
Adam Pocrnic
Flinders Law School, Australia
Abstract
While considerable literature has explored the complex nature of victimisation, few empirical
studies have examined the role of alcohol and other drugs (AODs) in victims’ experiences, spe-
cifically victims’ self-medication using AODs and its impact on ongoing health and welfare needs.
Addressing the dearth of empirical research on the nature and extent of victims’ self-medication,
and drawing upon quantitative data from a survey (n¼102) of victims from Adelaide, South
Australia this article explores individuals’ experiences of victimisation and AOD use against type of
victimisation, type of peer support network and type of consumption. The findings indicate support
for the self-medication for trauma hypothesis, namelythat victimisation is positively associated with
considerable increase in AOD consumption. On the other hand, there is a lack of support for the
supplementaryhypothesis that networksupport is associated with victimisation/re-victimisation. The
authors demonstrate that further empirical work is needed to deepen understanding of victims’
AOD use and expedite the development of evidence-based policy and support frameworks.
Keywords
Self-medication, informal support network, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and other
drugs, repeat victimization
Corresponding author:
Marinella Marmo, Flinders Law School, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA, 5001 Adelaide, Australia.
Email: marinella.marmo@flinders.edu.au
International Review of Victimology
2017, Vol. 23(2) 159–177
ªThe Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/0269758016686280
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Introduction
There is a lack of empirical evidence that examines the extent of victims’ self-medication using
alcohol and other drugs (AODs) and the impact of such behaviour on future victimisation, criminal
activity and health and welfare needs. While AOD use and victimisation generally have been
associated with negative outcomes, for example post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) (Morrison
et al., 2011), overall the literature has been sparse and limited to evaluations of a small number of
factors and relationships. Predominantly, this research has narrowly focused on intimate partner
violence (IPV) and substance use, physical and sexual violence associated with substance misuse,
and mental health (see Bowen, 2011; Guggisberg, 2010; Gutierres and Puymbroeck, 2006;
O’Farrell et al., 2003).
Consequently, not much is known about the patterns and incidence of AOD self-medication,
particularly when and how AOD is used by a wide range of victims. This lack of understanding
forms part of a larger gap in research and practice in the area of interpersonal violence/victimisa-
tion prevention (see Guterman, 2004; Murray and Graybeal, 2007). Understanding a pattern of
AOD self-medication against childhood and adult, single and multiple victimisation is important,
given the need to respond quickly and appropriately to individuals that present to support agencies.
Since some self-medication is a response to victimization trauma and in this regard may act in
substitution for informal and formal support engagements, more refined knowledge about victim
self-medication patterns will support catered, evidence-based treatment and support programmes
that may encourage a victim, who may be un certain or reluctant, to come forward. As such,
increased awareness of this issue will not only enhance collaborations between key organisations
and their capacity to respond, but also take some valuable steps toward accessing and supporting a
much larger clientele.
After briefly examining the current knowledge about victimisation and self-medication and its
limitations, this article draws upon findings on the extent and nature of AOD use in a quantitative
analysis of victims in Adelaide, South Australia.
1
The current study was designed and conducted in
collaboration with the Victim Support Service (VSS), South Australia. It sought to test the hypoth-
esis that victimisation is positively associated with an increase in AOD consumption and provide a
preliminary evaluation of the relations hip between victimisation, (in)forma l support and self-
medication.
Background: examining victimisation and AOD use
While the limitations of such a narrow approach are discussed later in this paper, it is useful in the
first instance to examine the context of IPV as a platform for understanding the links between
victimisation and AOD use. IPV is a widespread health and social problem that has engendered
substantial clinical, social and criminal justice debate over recent decades (Flynn and Graham,
2010; Guggisberg, 2010). Research has revealed that IPV victimisation contributes to increasing
vulnerability to mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety and PTSD (Guggisberg,
2010; Gutierres and Puymbroeck, 2006; Stewart, 1996; Ullman, 2003), as well as increasing the
likelihood of problem substance use (Jacobsen et al., 2001; Logan et al., 2002). As recent empirical
evidence has demonstrated (McFarlane and Malecha, 2005; Stewart and Israeli, 2001), experiences
of violence perpetrated by an intimate partner often exacerbate co-occurring mental health prob-
lems, which increases the risk for victims to develop AOD use problems, in particular alcohol
misuse (Klostermann and Fals-Stewart, 2006; O’Farrell et al., 2003; Testa and Parks, 1996),
160 International Review of Victimology 23(2)
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