In the past, most research involving substance use and crime has focused on substance use among perpetrators involved in the criminal justice system. Little research has been done to explore the relationship between substance use and criminal victimization—whether victimization results in substance use or vice versa. Of the little research that has been conducted, multiple studies have suggested that substance use rates are higher among victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, with one study suggesting that rape victims were over five times more likely to use prescription drugs non-medically than non-victims. As a result of the little research that has been done, there is little literature available to assist law enforcement and victim services providers with tools to assist victims of crime who have substance use disorders, and to understand the relationship between victimization and substance use.

This training will attempt to fill that gap by covering many aspects of the relationship between victimization and substance use disorders, including the intersection of substance use and mental illness, and substance use disorders among various victim populations, including female victims and child victims.