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| A Safe Call Now Special Report |
The most potentially
dangerous and seldom mentioned issue facing public safety personnel today is
the existence of substance abuse and addiction among its ranks. With reported abuse rates over twice the
national average for the general population, many of those entrusted to protect
and serve the communities of America are struggling to hold their own lives
together. For those public safety
employees fighting the demons of substance abuse and addiction, they are also
challenged by working within a professional culture that has historically
discouraged them from asking for help.
In fact, many public safety professionals who divulge their struggles to
employers and seek assistance are given the option to quit their job or be let
go. The result, they keep their
substance abuse and addiction a secret.
This dysfunctional way of doing business produces shattered lives for
those personally impacted by the substance abuse and addiction, as well as a
potentially perilous situation for the general public.
Safe Call Now®,
a non-profit organization, offers nationwide, comprehensive crisis referral
services for all public safety employees and their family members. Established and managed by public safety
officials, Safe Call Now® recognizes firsthand the stressors first
responders encounter and offers a broad array of training, as well as a
confidential, 24/7 crisis hotline staffed by current and former public safety
employees. Additionally, Safe Call Now® is dedicated to erasing the
stigma surrounding substance abuse and is committed to creating programs
designed to save the careers and lives of those impacted by it. While Safe Call
Now® is staffed to handle a wide array of crises, this document
focuses on how the organization addresses substance abuse and addiction in the
public safety population.
To read Safe Call Now’s
entire national report; Click Here
