5 Ways to Help a Firefighter in Crisis Get Help for Addiction in 2018
Dry January has been trending over the past few years, a commitment that people have been making alone and in groups to stop drinking all alcoholic beverages for the first 31 days of the year. The idea is to “detox” after a month or more of overindulgence during the holidays in order to start 2018 with a clear head and a renewed sense of energy and focus. For people in recovery, who are already sober, this is a great time of validation after a period where it feels that drinking and drug use are encouraged.
If you see that another firefighter is having a hard time managing their drinking and that Dry January is not even a possibility, your choices can help them connect with the treatment that will empower them to heal in the new year.
Here’s what you can do:
1. Plan an intervention. Sitting down with the people in your firehouse who are closest to your colleague in crisis can give everyone an opportunity to have an open conversation about what no one is talking about — the effects of the addiction and/or trauma disorders.
2. Choose whom you will include. Be discreet. Talk to your supervisor if you are holding the intervention at the firehouse. Otherwise, make it as private as possible and only include a few people who are close to the person in crisis, do not have a substance use problem of their own, and genuinely want to help them get treatment.
3. Consider hiring an interventionist. A professional can assist you in the process, from the details you may overlook to the large pieces, like running the intervention, that may be uncomfortable for you.
4. Find a drug rehab. The key to recovery is finding the best possible treatment program available. It is important to do this in advance so your colleague can go directly from the intervention into treatment.
5. Write out what you will say. Each participant will be able to speak and share their thoughts, including you. It can help to write it out, with the assistance of a professional interventionist to guide you.
Guiding a Coworker Toward Treatment
If you believe that a firefighter you work with is in need of addiction treatment, contact us at American Addiction Centers today. Our First Responder Lifeline Program provides a unique treatment program for firefighters and other first responders as they manage addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders related to trauma. We offer:
· Comprehensive care to address all identified issues contributing to substance use and abuse
· Family groups, therapy, and support
· Therapists and support staff who are trained to work with first responders
· Evidence-based therapies that offer healing for the mind, body, and spirit
· A unique treatment plan for each client to address specific needs and treatment goals
· Assistance with the reintegration process
If your coworker is in need of addiction treatment and intervention, call American Addiction Centers at (866) 53-SOBER now and begin the process of connecting them with lifesaving treatment in 2018.
