The authors review the research literature that supports the link between substance abuse and domestic violence. Many research reports have found that men who abuse drugs are more likely to be violent toward their intimate partners. In order to explain this link, the authors examine several theories that draw conclusions about how alcohol and drug abuse increase the risk of domestic violence. Classical disinhibition, cognitive distortion, learned disinhibition, deviancy disavowal, and power dynamics are all reviewed as competing explanations of why drugs can lead to violence. Next, the authors turn to an examination of treatment practices and note that there are few evidence-based best practices when drug and alcohol abuse co-exist with domestic violence. Several key issues that should be taken into account when treating both domestic violence and drug abuse are reviewed, including the assumptions that should be made, screening, placement criteria, victim safety, and sequencing interventions. The authors contend that while the perspectives on drugs and violence that are outlined in this article apply to men of any ethnicity, African-American men must be approached with an eye on their unique cultural and structural circumstances. The oppressive racism experienced by African-American men places them at special risk for many social ills, including drug abuse and violence. As such, any treatment or intervention strategy aimed at African-American men must focus on these important issues in order to be effective. References