NCJ Number
215077
Journal
Campus Law Enforcement Journal Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2006 Pages: 13-20
Date Published
May 2006
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Since nicotine and alcohol addiction often result from police officers' attempts to cope with the stress of their jobs, this article explains the health and behavioral dangers of such substance abuse and suggests ways that officers and their departments can help prevent and treat these addictions.
Abstract
Regardless of the form or methods in which nicotine is brought into the body--whether through snuff snorted into the nose or chewing tobacco, pipe, cigar, or cigarettes through the mouth--it releases toxic agents into the body. These toxic agents can result in serious health issues and often cancer and death. For officers who are addicted to nicotine, departments should either sponsor treatment programs or provide referral services. There are self-help programs that officers can use rather than participating in formal addiction programs. These self-help programs include motivational manuals, DVDs, and audio tapes that provide information and incentives for stopping the consumption of nicotine. Other methods of treatment include support groups that meet over a 6-week period to provide motivation and support as individuals progress through the treatment process. In association with support groups, nicotine replacement therapy is also used. These involve administering increasingly lower doses of nicotine over time until total abstinence is reached. The abusive consumption of alcoholic beverages can also damage an officer's health and undermine job performance to the point of placing the officer's own safety and that of his/her fellow officers at risk. Prevention efforts by police departments should include education, training, and the development of guidelines and an automated tracking system for monitoring the addictive behavior and treatment. A self-assessment checklist can help officers determine whether they are drinking excessively and as a means of coping with personal problems that should be addressed in a constructive way.