Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a public health problem with harsh consequences for
women’s well-being. Social attitudes towards victims of IPV have a big impact on the perpetuation of
this phenomenon. Moreover, specific problems such as the abuse of alcohol and drugs by IPV victims
could have an effect on blame attributions towards them. The aim of this study was to evaluate
whether the external perception (Study 1) and self-perception (Study 2) of blame were influenced
by the victims’ use and abuse of alcohol or by the victims’ use of psychotropic prescription drugs.
Results of the first study (N = 136 participants) showed a significantly higher blame attribution
towards female victims with alcohol abuse compared to those without it. No significant differences
were found on blame attributed to those with psychotropic prescription drugs abuse and the control
group. Results of the second study (N = 195 female victims of interpersonal violence) showed that
alcohol consumption is associated with higher self-blame and self-blame cognitions among IPV
victims. However, results did not show significant differences on self-blame associated to the victims’
use of psychotropic prescription drugs. Our findings indicate that alcohol consumption, but not
prescription drugs use, plays a relevant role in the attribution of blame by general population and
self-blame by victims of IPV
