NCJ Number
124299
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 17 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1990) Pages: 28-29
Date Published
1990
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article describes two drug treatment programs for police officers: The Employee Assistance Program (LEAP) at South Oaks Hospital in Amityville, N.Y., and the Florida-based Seafield 911 program.
Abstract
Under LEAP, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are conducted specifically for police officers. Officers also join mixed groups with civilians, and family members are included in therapy. The Seafield 911 program for police officers is modeled after the stress management program developed by Ed Donovan, a retired Boston police officer. Therapy for the family is arranged with organizations in the home community, aftercare is arranged with former police personnel, and participants are encouraged to join their local AA groups. Both programs follow the 12-step method of recovery with a full schedule of activities, and both have extensive aftercare. The length of stay in each program is approximately 28 days, and the cost is usually covered by insurance companies. Departmental support for such substance abuse programs for police officers is based in the belief that it is more cost-effective to rehabilitate a trained, experienced officer than to hire and train a new officer.