First Responders Rehab

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First Responders Addiction Treatment Program

First responders like police officers, fire-fighters, medical EMTs, & many others, heroically serve our communities every day, arriving first on the scene of a crisis, disasters, emergencies, and other violent events. As a result, first responders suffer disproportionately from exposure to trauma and trauma-related stress and other mental health effects. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) has reported that roughly one in three or 33% of first responders—namely, police officers, fire-fighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel develop substance abuse and or behavioral health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of their job.

PTSD is especially common in first responders, due to the nature of their work. Just one traumatic event alone is enough to cause symptoms of PTSD. But, a daily inundation of danger and tragedy, naturally, can trigger the following symptoms:

Alcohol, drug, and or food problems
Flashbacks, nightmares, and recurring thoughts
A loss of interest in things that once gave you pleasure
Sleep problems
Avoidance of people, places, or things that remind you of the trauma
High reactivity to certain situations
Emotional numbness

First Responders Treatment

The same SAMHSA report about first responder mental health needs notes other disconcerting statistics that illustrate why emergency responders need high-quality treatment that is personalized to their needs— and, sufficient job-protected time away from work for rehabilitation treatment:

Because of the frenetic pace of their work, 69 percent of EMS professionals have never had enough time to recover between traumatic events and therefore are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress and other negative mental health symptoms, according to one study.
Approximately 50 percent of male firefighters reported heavy or binge drinking in the last month, suggesting that substance problems occur at significantly higher rates among first responders.
With respect to suicide and suicidality, firefighters suffered from a higher suicide attempts and ideation rates than the general population, and in law enforcement, the estimates suggest between 125 and 300 police officers commit suicide every year.

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First Responder Specialized Addiction Treatment

If left untreated, both substance abuse and mental health issues for first responders can progressively worsen. For example, in the wake of a particularly traumatic accident, or a situation in which the first responder regrets they didn’t act differently, their guilt may contribute to clinical depression. Out of fear of losing his job or not carrying his fair share of the work, or because of a lack of understanding about his condition and the treatments for it, he may continue to work at the same pace, absorbing more on-the-job stress and trauma without attending to his underlying depression. He may then begin to self-medicate his depression by binge drinking—which in turn leads to an alcohol use disorder. The co-occurring depression and alcohol abuse will now require a higher, more intensive level of care such as inpatient treatment. By contrast, with more immediate intervention, the problem could have been successfully treated in an outpatient capacity when the presenting issue was depression only.

First Responder Addiction Program Benefits

If you’re a first responder with PTSD, depression, and or a co-occurring substance use disorder—whatever the mental health condition—you need to know that recovery is possible when you prioritize your health and pursue high-quality care. A trusted first responder recovery program like Ambrosia Treatment Center’s, one that tailors its treatment interventions to your specialized needs, will maximize your prospects of a full and permanent recovery.

Not every facility has a first responder co-occurring diagnosis for addiction and mental health treatment. Those that do may or may not tailor their treatments to first responders’ individual needs. Truly specialized treatment programs for first responders align their therapeutic interventions with the unique culture, code, and values of first responders, as well as the unique nature of emergency responders’ stressors and experiences. These distinctive factors mean first responders also have their own unique mental, emotional and behavioral symptoms and triggers, which are best processed with a first responder therapist (someone whose expertise is assisting this demographic).

Ambrosia Treatment Center Drug Rehab Programs for First Responders

Ambrosia Treatment Center employs evidence-based therapies, innovative medical care, and a comprehensive wellness trauma program. These focus on symptoms of PTSD, among other mental health conditions, in order to help our first responders successfully manage their condition and/or achieve life-long recovery from drugs and alcohol.

Ambrosia Treatment Center is designed to help first responders overcome specific obstacles and increase their ability to manage emotions during stressful situations without turning to self-medication. Our medical team works to customize a care plan tailored to the underlying issues that contribute to substance use disorders. Patients in the program also meet with therapists whose experience is specialized to meet their treatment needs.

Our evidence-based, holistic treatment approach addresses every individual’s physical, neurological, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. We also utilize a peer-support group model— to help improve our patients’ outcomes by placing patients together who have similar backgrounds. This allows patients to feel more comfortable, resulting in better outcomes.

First Responder Ambrosia Addiction Rehab Levels of CarePersonalized treatment approaches are utilized throughout our continuum of care. That continuum consists of these three levels of care, as defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM):

Level 1: Outpatient Services do not require that a patient live on-site at our facility, although designated housing for first responders is available for inpatient care. It permits clients to attend to work and home responsibilities while engaging in group and individual therapies. (Ex: the firefighter above who develops depression might best be served by this option in the earlier stages of his depression.)

Level 2: Intensive Outpatient (IOP) or Partial Hospitalization (PHP) entails significantly more time in group and individual therapies and treatment than do outpatient services, but without the residential requirement.

Level 3: Residential / Inpatient Services are the highest, most intensive level of care for first responders with more severe and co-occurring combined addiction and mental health conditions. Patients are in supervised care 24/7 while receiving a full, intensive day of group and individual therapies. (Ex: the firefighter who waits to get help until he has co-occurring depression and alcoholism will be better served at this level of care.)

Following a program of treatment at one of the above levels of care, Ambrosia clients can also enjoy the many benefits of our Alumni and Aftercare Program, including:

Our strong alumni support system
Group meetings like those in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous
Individual therapy sessions

Unique Features of Ambrosia– Neuro Treatment and a Peer Community of First Responders

“Specialized treatment for first responders” can mean different things at different facilities. Ambrosia is distinguished by a number of unique features, two of which deserve special mention: neuro treatment and a supportive community of fellow first responders alumni.

First Responder Neuro Addiction Treatment

Ambrosia innovation in using the latest brain technologies to treat PTSD And other mental health conditions is rare among addiction and behavioral health providers nationwide. Patients are able to make use of these neurorehabilitation services in conjunction with other therapies. The result is a speedier recovery so that patients can return to their families and communities as soon as possible.

After their admission to our facility, patients may be prescribed a neuroimaging scan of their brain that identifies areas of dysfunction related to PTSD and other mental health symptoms. When patients are able to see empirical evidence of their illness on a scan, many of them are able to let go of their shame and self-stigmatization. They are able to see and accept that they have a verifiable medical condition. Meanwhile, the brain imaging scans allow us to then therapeutically target impaired areas of the brain with rehabilitative technologies that relieve PTSD symptoms and restore brain health.

A Peer Community of Other First Responders

Research has uncovered the healing importance of belonging for first responders who seek rehab. For example, a study at the University of Buffalo found that veterans have better healthcare outcomes when their providers are familiar with military culture and values. From our own experience, too, when first responders can be part of a supportive community of peers, they feel more comfortable sharing and processing their experiences. They are quicker to be open and vulnerable in therapy because they know that the others in the room can truly understand what they are going through. This healing power of peer community is another dimension of treatment at Ambrosia that we have come to find expedites the recovery process, allowing first responders to return more quickly to their families and roles in public service.

Why Choose Ambrosia Treatment Center’s First Responder Program

As dedicated public servants, first responders are often the last to ask for help for themselves. This strong ethic of self-sacrifice can even cause some first responders to think that it is a sign of weakness to ask for help— especially when their problem is mental health-related. At Ambrosia Treatment Center, we understand these dynamics and want to support you every step of the way in getting the specialized treatment you both need and deserve— without endangering your job. To that end, we have created an admissions process that is discrete and confidential, with the guarantee that your employer won’t have to find out. We also have the ability to work with unions to protect your job, thanks to an in-house expert who works closely with first responder unions.

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Help for First Responders

Showing up for other Americans in their time of need and crisis, even if it means putting your own life at risk, is both honorable and heroic. But only a superhero can constantly stand in the line of fire without being mentally and emotionally affected. If you’re struggling with PTSD, addiction or another mental health problem, do the honorable and heroic thing today and show up for yourself, by calling us. We’ll help you the rest of the way.

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Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM( Medical Reviewer )

Dr. Alam is an internationally renowned psychiatrist with academic affiliations with Northwestern University and University of Illinois, Chicago where he completed his residency training. He has been a principal investigator for over forty studies and has been involved in research leading to the approval of most psychiatric medications currently on the market. He is the founder of the Neuroscience Research Institute which continues to conduct research on cutting edge medication and interventional psychiatry. Dr. Alam is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He has won several awards and has been featured extensively on radio and television.