Objective: Despite numerous studies on associations between substance use and intimate partner violence (IPV), the literature lacks consistency and clarity, making it difficult to ascertain the strength and nature of such associations. Scientific understanding of contextual factors that contribute to IPV would be enhanced by studies adopting a dyadic perspective. The current study advances the literature by examining the role of alcohol and marijuana use on couples’ IPV using an actor-partner framework. Method: Data were drawn from a community-based sample of 323 young adults at risk for delinquency and their romantic partners. Both young adults and partners reported on their own alcohol and marijuana use and their own and their partners’ IPV. Results: Men who used only alcohol and women with polysubstance use exhibited more psychological IPV perpetration compared to men who abstained and women who used only alcohol, and men with polysubstance or only alcohol use experienced more psychological IPV victimization relative to men who abstained. Whereas women’s polysubstance use was associated with more physical IPV victimization compared to women who used only alcohol, men’s alcohol and marijuana use were not associated with physical IPV. Men’s, but not women’s, polysubstance use was associated with more sexual IPV perpetration and victimization relative to men who abstained or used only alcohol. Conclusions: Findings indicate associations between alcohol use and IPV, particularly for men, and for polysubstance users of both sexes. This is consistent with other findings indicating that although alcohol use is a risk factor for IPV, effects vary considerably as a function of methodology and samples. Given the presence of both actor and partner effects, studies that employ dyadic frameworks have the potential to yield more precise knowledge about the role of substance use in intimate partner conflict and to make greater contributions toward the prevention of substance abuse and IPV