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Every day, public safety officials such as military personnel, police, probation, correction officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians put their lives on the line to protect the public in both domestic and foreign areas. This document outlines their jobs cause stress, which can lead to alcohol and/or drug use, and offers resources to help.
Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, observes National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month). This year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Now More Than Ever!,” emphasizes that treatment and recovery programs and services are essential for officials facing increased stress on the job and turning to alcohol and/or drugs to cope. It also celebrates individuals and families in long-term recovery and acknowledges those working in the field who provide recovery services.
The Stress of Serving the Public
Many public safety sectors work to protect people in the United States. Each sector faces exposure to incidents that cause stress and may play a part in alcohol and/or drug abuse.1 Each job presents unique challenges:
- Military officials face physical and mental health challenges that include exposure to violent combat, trauma, injury to themselves, or survivors’ guilt when a fellow soldier is killed. They also must juggle both military and family responsibilities. One of SAMHSA’s 10 Strategic Initiatives is to support military service men and women, and their families and communities, by leading efforts to ensure needed behavioral health services are accessible and outcomes are successful.
- Approximately 60 percent of veterans have an alcohol dependence.2
- Firefighters and emergency medical technicians frequently respond first to 911 calls, arrive first at an accident scene, and risk their lives by entering directly into high-danger situations.
- Studies show that 29 percent of active duty firefighters have possible or probable problems with alcohol use.3
- Police, probation, and correction officers deal with high-stress situations on duty, such as fatal shootings and robberies, which statistically increase their likelihood of alcohol and/or drug abuse.
- According to a recent study, one-quarter of law enforcement officers in the United States report alcohol dependence as a result of stress on the job.4
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Prevalence of Co-Occurring Disorders
Individuals with both an addiction and an emotional or psychiatric problem are diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder. Public safety officials are vulnerable to these disorders due to their high-stress jobs. In 2008 alone, 2.5 million adults suffered from both serious mental illness and substance dependence or abuse.5 It is estimated that:
- 53 percent of people who use drugs also have at least one serious mental illness.6
- 29 percent of all people who are diagnosed as mentally ill abuse alcohol and/or drugs.7
- 50 percent of adults who misuse alcohol and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have other serious psychological or physical problems.8
Where to Find Confidential Help
Public safety officials who suffer from a substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders should reach out to the following contacts for confidential guidance and support:
- Government resources such as SAMHSA’s National Helpline, accessed by calling 1-800-662-HELP or 1-800-487-4889 (TDD), or SAMHSA’s "Find Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment" Web site, provide an abundant number of treatment and recovery options in your area.
- Doctors answer medical and health questions, refer people to addiction treatment programs, and provide people medication if appropriate.
- Clergy members provide spiritual direction and serve as a nonjudgmental resource. They also can refer people to local resources for treatment.
- Local mental health associations can help find a social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional in your community.
- Health insurers aid in the cost of treatment and help individuals or their families who are seeking treatment options.
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What Can I Do?
If you notice that family members, colleagues, or friends who serve as public safety officials may have a substance use disorder, help them find treatment. To aid the person’s path to recovery, keep in mind the following tips:
- Remember that substance use disorders can be treated and recovery is possible.
- Educate colleagues and peers about the disease of addiction, which will reduce the misconceptions and myths associated with treatment and recovery.
- Use national helplines, e-therapy and online services, and Web sites, which are found at the end of this document, that offer free and confidential treatment and recovery services. Public safety officials may be more likely to participate in programs that are private and “off the record.”
- Be open and share stories. Discuss your own experiences and feelings with others who have a substance use, mental health, or co-occurring disorder.
- Reach out to the person who uses alcohol and/or drugs. Casually approach the person to discuss the possibility of treatment. If a casual setting does not work, organize a formal intervention to urge the person to receive help. To learn more about organizing an intervention, visit http://www.addictioncareoptions.com/intervention.
- Separate yourself emotionally from the situation. If you allow yourself to detach from the circumstances, you are less likely to damage your relationship with the person you are trying to help.
- Don’t forget that it takes tremendous courage for individuals to admit they have an alcohol and/or drug problem.
- Remember that recovery is a process and there are many paths to recovery. Encourage continued participation in peer-support programs and therapy to sustain long-term recovery.
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Resources for Public Safety Officials
In addition to the information and resources found on the Recovery Month Web site and the SAMHSA Web site, public safety officials can find treatment and recovery information through the following resources:
- Addiction and PTSD: Combating Co-occuring Disorders – This SAMHSA television and radio program examines PTSD’s connection to substance use disorders and provides information on where people can find treatment.
- U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – This center advances the clinical care and social welfare of U.S. veterans through research, education, and training on PTSD and stress-related disorders.
- Military Pathways – This resource helps families and service members who need a private and confidential assessment for conditions including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and alcohol abuse.
- Battle Mind – This Web site assists soldiers and families with making the transition from the combat zone to home.
- The Sweeney Alliance’s Grieving Behind the Badge Program – This program offers help to emergency response and public safety personnel.
- Police Stressline – This Web site features humorous, insightful articles and a forum on stress in law enforcement.
Click here for a more in-depth version of this guide for public safety officials.
Information about treatment options and special services in your area can be found by calling 1-800-662-HELP or 1-800-487-4889 (TDD), as well as at http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment.
Inclusion of Web sites and other resources mentioned in this document and on the Recovery Month Web site does not constitute official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
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Sources
1Bryce, Cyralene. Stress Management in Disasters. Pan American Health Organization Web site: http://www.paho.org/english/ped/stressmgn.pdf. Accessed August 3, 2009.
2PTSD and Problems with Alcohol: CSAT Disaster Recovery. SAMHSA Web site: http://www.samhsa.gov/csatdisasterrecovery/outreach/ptsdandproblemswithalcohol.pdf. Accessed July 23, 2009.
3Alcohol and Drug Use, Abuse and Dependence. International Association of FireFighters Web site: http://www.iaff.org/ET/JobAid/EAP/Drug_and_Alcohol_Use.htm. Accessed August 4, 2009.
4Cross, Chad and Ashley, Larry. “Police Trauma and Addiction: Coping With the Dangers of the Job.” The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, October 2004.
5Results from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. HHS Publication No. SMA 09-4434. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, September 2009, p. 94.
6Co-Occurring Disorders. Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania Web site: http://www.mhasp.org/help/co-occurring.html. Accessed July 24, 2009.
7Ibid.
8Traumatic Stress and Substance Use Problems. The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Web site: http://www.aaets.org/article187.htm. Accessed July 20, 2009.
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