Don Prince is a former fire chief, firefighter and EMS provider. He’s also a recovering alcoholic, which is why he’s a former fire chief, no longer a fire department member and not providing EMS care. In an article Prince wrote:
“One of the biggest things I could not let go of was my embarrassment, disappointment in myself and shame of having to resign my position as chief and my membership after almost 17 years of being a part of something that meant so much to me and for which I was not willing or able to make a choice to correct in order to try and save. Drinking was more important than my career and family at that time. I now see that if I had addressed my addiction years ago and sought the help that was offered to me none of this would have happened [1].”
Some EMS providers just like the patients they serve struggle with alcoholism and addiction. The daily stress of EMS work, as well as some cultural norms, may cause some EMS providers to unwind with friends and colleagues in situations where alcohol flows freely.
Research on alcohol use in EMS and fire
Science defines binge drinking as five or more servings for men or four or more servings for women. The definition is based on blood alcohol content — that consuming that many drinks within two hours typically raises BAC to 0.08 g/dL or higher [2].
In a study, funded by a grant from Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Research and Development, firefighters were asked about their alcohol use. Data was collected from 656 male firefighters from 24 departments in the Missouri Valley region [3].
- Of the firefighters surveyed, 85 percent of career and 71 percent of volunteer firefighters reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days.
- Approximately half of career and volunteer firefighters reported binge drinking in the past month.
- Career firefighters reported drinking 10 days per month, which is about half their off-duty days in most departments.
- Volunteer firefighters reported drinking an average of 12 days a month.
So, how do firefighters compare to the general male population in the United States? According to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 62 percent of males reported consuming alcohol in the past month — significantly lower than the fire service [4].
In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published data on binge drinking from more than 176,000 males. They found that 23 percent of males reported binge drinking in the month previous — half the rate of binge drinking reported in the fire service research [5].
We also know from anecdotal news reports, social media sharing and personal observation that EMS providers and firefighters seek solitude in the privacy of their own home in the company of a bottle of wine, beer or spirits. For a handful of addicts, the access to patient and agency medications can lead to a downward spiral of narcotics abuse, addiction and theft.
Substance treatment programs
The goal of substance abuse treatment is to stop drug or alcohol abuse and allow addicts to lead active lives in their family, workplace and community. One continual challenge, however, is keeping patients in treatment long enough for them to achieve this goal. That is why finding the right treatment for a person’s specific needs is critical.
Drug abuse treatment is not one size fits all. Treatment outcomes depend on the [7]:
- Extent and nature of the person’s problems
- Appropriateness of treatment
- Availability of additional services such as after-care
- Quality of interaction between the person and his or her treatment providers
To help addicts find appropriate care, the National Institute on Drug Abuse created a brief guide that asks five questions to answer when searching for a treatment program [8]:
- Does the program use treatments backed by scientific evidence?
- Does the program tailor treatment to the needs of each patient?
- Does the program adapt treatment as the patient’s needs change?
- Is the duration of treatment sufficient?
- How do 12-step or similar recovery programs fit into drug addiction treatment?
Information resources on drug and alcohol addiction
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.
One of SAMHSA’s programs is the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, a repository and review system designed to provide the public with reliable information on mental health and substance abuse interventions. All interventions in the registry have met NREPP’s minimum requirements for review. The programs’ effects on individual outcomes have been independently assessed and rated by certified NREPP reviewers [9].
The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. The Joint Commission accreditation and certification of substance abuse treatment centers is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards [10].
Addiction treatment programs
A variety of treatment options are available. Some treatment programs serve a diverse patient population while others focus their efforts on the specific characteristics of public safety personnel.
The Watershed is an addiction treatment program, licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families, Substance Abuse Program Office and accredited by the Better Business Bureau. The Watershed also maintains Gold Seal accreditation through The Joint Commission. The Watershed has provided inpatient addiction, detoxification and rehabilitation services for over 14 years and successfully treated over 35,000 people [11].
The Watershed Addiction Treatment Programs website includes a wealth of resource including links for treatment programs in each of the 50 U.S. states.
In just three years, the Brattleboro Retreat Uniformed Service Program in Vermont has helped about 1,200 uniformed service professionals deal with issues including stress, substance abuse, trauma and depression [12]. Participants come to Brattleboro from throughout the United States, as well as military bases in Europe.
The Brattleboro Uniformed Service Program is a rigorous, brief — average stay is 10 days — partial hospitalization program for active or retired members of a uniformed service, such as police, fire, corrections, military and emergency medical service. Its structured and supervised psychotherapy program focuses on rapid clinical change, reduction of symptoms and stabilization and transitioning to outpatient service providers [13].
American Addiction Centers owns and operates adult drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation facilities nationwide. AAC has treatment facilities located in California, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Nashville and Las Vegas [14].
The Rosecrance Florian Program for firefighters and paramedics incorporates occupational factors into the treatment process. The program’s director is an active-duty Battalion Chief/EMT with more than 25 years of experience with the Chicago Fire Department. Operational medical control is provided by a board-certified psychiatrist and addictionologist who is trained and experienced in treating firefighters and paramedics for co-occurring disorders [15].
Do your research
Don Prince, the former fire chief, took his new “lease on life” as a recovering alcoholic and sought training and education from The Addictions Academy to become a Certified Recovery Coach and Interventionist through. The Addictions Academy is one of the nation’s leading and accredited centers for individuals seeking training and certification in the fields of addiction treatment services, recovery/sober coaching and intervention.
During my e-mail exchange with Prince, he expressed the need for EMS providers looking for substance abuse treatment options to be cautious. “I would like to share with you my opinion of what the truth is as far as what is out there for one of us who needs help. It is not a very good situation given the current state of the substance abuse industry.” [16].
Regarding some residential treatment facilities, Prince wrote, “The idea that a majority of the providers are in it to save lives and help you is not their primary intended mission. That comes secondary to filling beds and making a profit. What suffers is the quality of care during your stay at a facility and, even more importantly, is the lack of aftercare when you leave and get home and back on the job.”
According to Prince, 80 percent of people leaving an addiction treatment center relapse within the first year of discharge. Nine out of ten of the addicts who relapse do so within their first 90 days after discharge. “Working with a Recovery Coach can significantly reduce the likelihood of relapse during this crucial period,” wrote Prince. “Recovery Coaching is often the missing link, bridging the gap between an individual leaving a treatment center and maintaining long term sobriety.”
References
1. Prince, D. Fighting the Devil Within. [Available: On-line] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fighting-devil-within-don-prince?trk=mp-reader-card
2. FireRescue1. Firefighters and alcohol, what the data says. http://www.firerescue1.com/Firefighter-Training/articles/2150808-Firefighters-and-alcohol-what-the-data-says/
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA/NIH). Anyone Can Become Addicted to Drugs. YouTube. https://youtu.be/SY2luGTX7Dk
7. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Seeking Drug Abuse Treatment: Know What to Ask. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/seeking-drug-abuse-treatment-know-what-to-ask/introduction
8. Ibid.
9. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. http://nrepp.samhsa.gov/02_about.aspx
10. The Joint Commission. About The Joint Commission. http://www.jointcommission.org/about_us/about_the_joint_commission_main.aspx
11. The Watershed Addiction Treatment Programs. Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.thewatershed.com/get-help-now/frequently-asked-questions/
12. Brattleboro Retreat. Uniformed Service Program. http://www.brattlebororetreat.org/usp
13. New England Psychologist. Program helps service professionals. http://www.nepsy.com/articles/leading-stories/program-helps-service-professionals/
14. American Addiction Centers. Frequently Asked Questions. http://www.treatmentsolutions.com/frequently-asked-questions/
15. Rosecrance Florian Program. Firefighter & Paramedic Substance Abuse Treatment Program. http://www.rosecrance.org/substance-abuse/florian-firefighter-treatment-center/
16. Prince, D. Personal Communication via LinkedIn. April 14, 2016.
