In the case history, Mary was married to an abusive husband who drank regularly and used marijuana on occasion. He physically abused her, prompting her to call the local women's center on various occasions. She had also been sexually abused by her stepfather as a child. Eventually, Mary started drinking and using tranquilizers. Mary's case history illustrates the complex relationships among social problems, life events, and criminal acts. Understanding these relationships requires knowledge of gender roles, expectations, and stereotypes in order to design appropriate interventions. In particular, the authors note that women's roles and women have less social worth than men and men's roles. Alcohol and other drug use play a significant role in the development of other problems, as demonstrated by studies based on family of origin, developmental disruption, disinhibition, learning, and deviance disavowal theories. Most studies show that women with alcohol and other drug problems usually initiate drug use due to physical, psychological, or emotional pain. Poverty and discrimination also contribute to the development of "linked" problems. Suggestions for women's centers are offered to help meet the special needs of women with multiple problems that may have begun in their childhood. The focus is on adolescent pregnancy, dropping out of school, violence, incest and child sexual assault, and battering. 58 references