Prevalence of Substance Use Management Practices in Domestic Violence Shelters in Kentucky

Background: Intimate partner violence is a pervasive issue in the United States, and survivors frequently experience co-occurring problems such as substance use disorders. Domestic violence shelters play a crucial role in providing safety and support. However, little is known about the extent to which shelters implement substance use management practices. This study examined the utilization of substance use management practices (SUMPs) across Kentucky’s domestic violence shelters. Methods: In July 2020, an online survey was conducted with executive directors from all 15 agencies operating domestic violence shelters in Kentucky. SUMPs were examined and compared between shelters in rural and urban locations. Results: Most directors reported routine use of substance use screening tools by their domestic violence programs. Overall, programs implemented a medium level of SUMPs and policies aligned with harm reduction. Urban shelters tended to implement more SUMPs and be more aligned with harm reduction compared to shelters in rural locations. Conclusions: Most participating domestic violence shelters included routinely screen for substance use and implement SUMPs aligned with harm reduction. However, a quarter of programs do not routinely screen for substance use. Some programs, especially those in rural areas, are lacking in their implementation of SUMPs. Shelter staff should inform survivors of available resources, communicate substance-related practices and policies to community partners who may need to refer survivors to shelter, and use emerging evidence to leverage support for funding and resources for survivors. Future participatory research that includes survivor and front-line staff perspectives is needed to drive practice and policy change.