This study examined assaults on wives by their husbands in an attempt to provide information on the intoxication-victimization theory, a theory that posits intoxication as a condition which increases the probability of victimization. Data were obtained by telephone interviews in 1985 with a national probability sample of 6,002 households. The wife abuse data came from wives' reports in 3,665 households containing a currently married or cohabiting couple. Survey questions measured drunkenness and drug abuse, violence, and approval of violence. The sample was classified into three groups: non-abused wives, women who experienced minor violence at the hands of their partner, and women who were the victims of severe assaults by their partner. Discriminant analysis was used to determine the extent to which these groups could be differentiated on the basis of 11 variables: (1) wife's drug use; (2) wife's drunkenness; (3) husband's drug use; (4) husband's drunkenness; (5) low income; (6) violence by victim's parents; (7) housewife status; (8) husband's unemployment; (9) pregnancy; (10) violence norms; and (11) number of children. The results revealed that, relative to other factors examined, husband's drug use was the most important predictor of wife abuse, and husband's drunkenness was second in importance. Women who drank heavily or used other drugs had a higher risk of being victims of wife abuse than did other women. Other important factors were low income, unemployment, and attitudes which tolerate violence. (NB)