Law Enforcement and First Responder Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Alcohol and drug addiction touches every segment of society, including the heroic workers that protect us from the worst of life’s events. Split-second decisions can determine everyday survival. Consistently facing high-stake situations, chronic pain from injury, and impending threats can cause some people to cope by using alcohol or drugs.

To find drug and alcohol treatment centers for law enforcement and first responder personnel in your area, simply click one of the links below to search our directory.

Help for Law Enforcement

AAC recognizes the stakes are high every day for law enforcement officers and it’s our responsibility to the heroes who run towards danger instead of away from it. AAC has developed an alcohol and substance abuse treatment program that addresses the specific stressors faced by those who work in the law enforcement field. Our program was developed using input from veteran officers and clinicians who have worked with hundreds of officers.

Levels of Care

Individuals are assigned a level of care based on their individual clinical needs and substance abuse history. AAC is unique in that we offer different law enforcement treatment services based on level of care and services required. Following evaluation of you or your loved one’s addiction severity, you’ll be assigned a level of care and treatment based on individual history and clinical needs. Some clients transition through all levels of care as treatment progresses.

Program Goals

Our programs seek to address the individual addiction needs of you or your loved one and restore the health and stability that substance abuse has taken away, The purpose of this program is to effectively treat officers in need and prepare them to return to the communities they have pledged to “Protect and Serve.”

Who do we treat?

In addition to law enforcement officers, we also treat members of officers’ immediate families. For example, we can effectively treat the spouse of an officer who is addicted to prescription painkillers, or an officer’s teenage son or daughter who is abusing new designer drugs.

Who leads this program?

Our treatment program is led by James Morrison, CADC, BRI-II, a veteran law enforcement professional with decades of experience. Mr. Morrison is a retired Chicago Police Officer, who has spent nine years working in the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and is highly experienced with workplace and family interventions.

Mr. Morrison presented “Liquid Courage: Treating Officers With Alcoholism” at the International Association of Police Chiefs with Dr. Robin Kroll. He has worked with treatment centers across the country to establish protocol for treating law enforcement officers.

Mr. Morrison says, “Michael Cartwright, founder and chairman of American Addiction Centers, has made it his mission to work with the national law enforcement community. The team here is hard at work to ensure this population has access to the best possible treatment available across the country.”

How it works:

UNCOPE — Screening Instrument for Substance Abuse

The UNCOPE consists of six questions found in existing instruments and assorted research reports. This excellent screen was first reported by Hoffmann and colleagues in 1999. Variations in wording are noted for several of the items. The first wording is the original for the “U” and “P” items. The more concrete wording of the revised versions were found to be slightly better as a generic screen. Either version of the six questions may be used free of charge for oral administration in any medical, psychosocial, or clinical interview. They provide a simple and quick means of identifying risk for abuse and dependence for alcohol and other drugs. Please maintain attribution.

1. In the past year, have you ever drank or used drugs more than you meant to or have you spent more time drinking or using than you intended to?

Yes

No

2. Have you ever neglected some of your usual responsibilities because of using alcohol or drugs?

Yes

No

3. Have you felt you wanted or needed to cut down on your drinking or drug use in the last year?

Yes

No

4. Has anyone objected to your drinking or drug use?” OR “Has your family, a friend, or anyone else ever told you they objected to your alcohol or drug use?

Yes

No

5. Have you ever found yourself preoccupied with wanting to use alcohol or drugs?” OR “Have you found yourself thinking a lot about drinking or using?

Yes

No

6. Have you ever used alcohol or drugs to relieve emotional discomfort, such as sadness, anger, OR boredom?

Yes

No