First Responder Rehabs

Law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and emergency services personnel all face a great deal of stress and trauma on a daily basis. Depending on the day, they may go from one stressful, emotionally charged situation directly to another without a moment’s reprieve. Police officers routinely witness devastating events. Today, the level of stress surrounding their work environment is higher than ever before. Police officers are at a higher risk for drug and alcohol abuse than most members of the general population. Recent statistics show that approximately one in four (between twenty and thirty percent) of police officers have a substance use disorder. 

Firefighters are subject to significant job stressors as well. Long shifts and traumatic calls lead to the development of mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and panic disorders. Similar to law enforcement and emergency services personnel, many firefighters turn to substances as a means of coping with the overwhelming symptoms of these disorders. A survey by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that almost thirty percent of firefighters engage in alcohol abuse, and approximately ten percent struggle with addiction to prescription drugs. 

In addition to twenty-four- and forty-eight-hour shifts, often with minimal sleep or time to decompression, emergency services personnel are responsible for life and death decisions regarding their patients. Between arriving at their call and transitioning their patient to hospital staff, emergency workers must make decisions pertaining to drug administration, treatment, and often means of transport. All of the above have a significant outcome on the future health and well-being of their patient. Consequently, and unsurprisingly, emergency services workers are at considerable risk for developing mental health illnesses and substance use disorders. 

According to data provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as many as thirty-six percent of emergency services workers suffer from depression, and other twenty percent from post-traumatic stress disorder, and emergency medical staff are almost ten times more likely to commit suicide than other members of the population. Instances of alcohol and drug abuse are significantly higher among emergency services personnel, although current and accurate statistics are difficult to find.