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Few studies have examined factors related to problem drinking and drug use in Black sexual assault victims. Given that sexual assault and histories of trauma are associated with substance abuse in victims, research is needed to determine what factors may be related to these outcomes for Black survivors. Furthermore, child sexual abuse (CSA) is a risk factor for substance abuse, but no studies have examined correlates of substance abuse outcomes separately according to CSA history. This study examines a large diverse sample of Black sexual assault victims (N = 495) to determine the associations of demographics, trauma history, assault characteristics, and postassault psychosocial factors with problem drinking and drug use using multivariate regressions. Traumatic life events, using substances to cope and self-blame, were associated with greater problem drinking and drug use. Implications for practitioners and policymakers are discussed.
Keywords: Black women; substance use; rape; trauma
Sexual victimization of Black women can have lasting repercussions. According to the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women (www.vawnet .org; West, 2013), one in five Black women reported experiencing sexual assault during their lifetime. Research shows that sexual assault may have consequences later in life and that women are at an increased risk to use drugs and alcohol after sexual victimization (Miranda, Meyerson, Long, Marx, & Simpson, 2002; Ullman, Relyea, Peter-Hagene, & Vasquez, 2013). Caetano, Clark, & Tam's (1998) national study of drinking problems showed that Black women were more likely to be heavy drinkers than their White and Latina counterparts. Considering that many Black women are survivors of sexual victimization and may be more susceptible to heavy drinking and drug use, it is important to understand factors that may influence drug and alcohol use for Black sexual assault survivors and the role of those factors in recovery from sexual assault.
Furthermore, women who use alcohol and/or drugs may have difficulties in the recovery process (Turner & Wallace, 2003) including susceptibility to revictimization (Najdowski & Ullman, 2011). Despite the fact that studies have looked at the impact of drug/alcohol use on the outcomes of victimization for women, they have yet to examine how other factors such as traumatic life experiences impact outcomes, particularly for Black women. Turner and Wallace (2003) suggest that many treatment programs overlook the...