Domestic violence, child abuse or witnessing family violence in the childhood are important risk factors for development of addiction during adolescence. Literature data demonstrate that around 70% of women included into addiction treatment programmes suffered or were witnesses of domestic violence. In those patients, addiction can be seen as auto-medication aiming at overcoming abuse-related emotions. In addition, child abuse can also be seen as extreme rejection by parents, leading to diminishing of emotional relationship and attachment between the child and parents, and subsequent development of close links with peers addicted to drugs.

We will present data on frequency and type of domestic violence and child abuse in the group of patients treated in the Day Hospital of the Institute for Addiction in Belgrade, demonstrating higher frequency of abuse/witnessing abuse in the group of heroin addicts compared to the control group.