First responders, including sworn and civilian public safety staff, carry a level of intensity that most people never experience. Our work exposes traumatic calls, life-threatening emergencies, severe injuries, violence and situations that stay with us long after a shift ends. Over time, repeated exposure places our profession at a higher risk for the kind of cumulative stress that can deeply affect mental and emotional well-being. Many people experience anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, irritability and post-traumatic stress as a natural reaction to the demands of the job.

When the pressures are not processed in a healthy way, they can create a sense of isolation and vulnerability. In that space, it is easy to look for relief wherever it appears available. For some, substances start as a temporary solution. Alcohol may feel like a way to unwind, prescription medications may seem to take the edge off and other substances can feel like they quiet intrusive thoughts or emotional pain. The challenge is that this kind of relief can quickly become a conditioned response. When feeling bad leads to using something to feel better, coping gradually shifts away from healthy strategies and toward the substance itself. What begins as “just getting through the day” can turn into a pattern that is difficult to interrupt, especially when stress continues and life doesn’t provide enough time to recover.

Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to breaking that pattern. Many courageous co-workers worry that asking for help will be seen as weakness or could negatively impact their career, reputation or relationships at work. That misconception keeps people silent, and silence postpones support until problems become more severe. Instead of addressing stress, trauma symptoms or early substance misuse, some people hide their struggles, maintain professionalism on the surface or try to handle everything alone. This is where early intervention and peer encouragement become essential.

As a substance abuse resource coordinator, my goal is to make support easier to access, more normal to seek and more effective when it’s needed. Peer support works best when it’s respectful and practical, offering a listening ear without judgment, being present and helping someone connect with the right resources before things escalate. Support can be simple: checking in, offering encouragement, sharing that recovery is possible or helping with connections to counseling, treatment resources or other professional services. It’s equally important to recognize that civilians in our department are not immune to these risks; dispatch, transport, administrative and support roles can carry their own forms of trauma and secondary exposure, and they deserve the same attention and care.

Reducing risk starts with culture. When our workplace promotes honest conversations about well-being and recovery, people are more likely to reach out early and less likely to rely on substances as their only coping tool. Training in resilience, stress management, emotional awareness and peer support reinforces the message that mental health is part of the job, not a failure within it. Most importantly, we can adopt a perspective that treats seeking help as responsible and strength-based. Asking for support is a proactive step that protects both the individual and the mission.

You do not have to hit rock bottom to deserve help. If substance misuse is showing up, if trauma symptoms are building or if a co-worker seems to be struggling, reaching out sooner can change the outcome. Supporting well-being and early intervention strengthens our families, our staff and the safety of our communities. Together, we can create an environment where people feel supported, valued and empowered to thrive, because lasting strength comes from taking care of our minds as much as our bodies. Psychological Services Bureau personnel are available to offer guidance and support with managing issues related to substance use and misuse. They can be reached by calling (213) 738-3500. Peers in recovery can also be a great resource. Peace Officer’s Fellowship provides peer-driven, law enforcement-centered support, and the members listed in the table above are available to provide meeting information and guidance.