The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the use of substances (i.e. alcohol and illegal drugs) and violence in partners of adolescents and young people. The sample consisted of 1.282 participants aged 15-20. Analyses of conglomerates identified three groups of adolescents and young people with different levels of substance consumption: low, moderate and high consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs. Several logistic regression analyses were carried out to predict each type of intimate partner aggression (physical, psychological and sexual) based on the level of use of substances. High levels of alcohol and illegal drug use significantly increased the likelihood of reporting physical and sexual assault for both sexes. Similarly, participants with a high level of consumption reported more frequently that they started episodes of aggression against their partner. The results suggest that the use of alcohol and drugs is a risk factor for violence in leadership, which needs to be taken into account for the prevention of intimate partner violence from adolescence onwards.