While firefighters are extremely valuable to society, they often go through traumatic experiences that resonate with them for years or even their entire lives. A firefighter usually has to deal with extremely unpleasant situations that take a psychological toll, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. One of the most common effects of these mental issues translates to many different substance abuse disorders and addictions.
If you are interested in learning more about the relationship between addiction and firefighters, Banyan Philadelphia is here to further educate you so that you can get help for yourself or a family member that is struggling with substance abuse issues. Continue reading for more.
Firefighter Alcoholism
When it comes to learning more about addiction and firefighters, alcohol is an important substance to familiarize yourself with. One of the most common substances that are abused by firefighters is alcohol. Alcohol is a particularly dangerous substance when paired with anxiety or depression because this could cause a complicated addiction to develop.
An addiction to alcohol also presents a danger to firefighters because being under the influence on the job makes it more difficult to conduct normal activities. This presents an added danger to those already in trouble.
Alcohol abuse is common among firefighters, with surveys by the Center for Fire Rescue and EMS Health Research (CFREHR) revealing that 85% of career firefighters reported drinking in the past month, and even some reporting drinking 10 days a month.1
Another substance that firefighters typically abuse is prescription pills. Aside from numbing some of the feelings of depression and PTSD that accompany the experience of being a firefighter, they also numb the physical pain that often stems from the physical demands of the job. This could be a more complicated addiction for firefighters to deal with because these substances are legal and available through prescription.
Our Philadelphia drug treatment center notes that the physical addiction to prescription pills is extremely difficult and often requires professional care. Our facility offers prescription drug addiction treatment that incorporates physical and psychological support that can help you or a loved one recover.
First Responders and Addiction
Understanding addiction and firefighters is impossible without learning about the struggles that first responders often go through. First responders are typically those that respond to hazardous incidents. As first responders, firefighters often deal with situations that profoundly impact their psyche, which may then lead them to turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with.
Firefighters and first responders are some of the demographic that are most affected by substance abuse and mental health issues, and one that our Philadelphia addiction rehab takes seriously.
First Responder Addiction Treatment
As one of the top providers of Philadelphia substance abuse programs, we offer a wide collection of service and treatment options for those who are suffering from drug or alcohol abuse. Some of our most popular treatment options include:
- Partial Hospitalization Programs
- Intensive Outpatient Programs
- Stabilization Program
- Faith in Recovery Program
By relying on a collection of proven programs like these, our staff can help you or a loved one get their life back on track.
Contact Banyan Philadelphia Today
Banyan Philadelphia is a treatment center that is dedicated to helping patients with our multiple levels of personalized treatment care. Personalized health treatments are more effective because no two cases of addiction are the same. We work to make sure that all aspects of a patient’s life need to be attended to in order to best treat addiction.
Call Banyan Treatment Centers today at 888-280-4763 to learn more about addiction treatment for first responders, Philadelphia eating disorder treatment, and more.
Sources:
- Fire Rescue 1 - Firefighters and alcohol: What the data says
