Police culture is a large factor that contributes to alcohol use amongst officers, and officers and researchers report that police culture contributes to the high volume of alcohol consumption, abuse, and dependence. Researchers found 20% of police officers abuse alcohol, which is two times that of the general population, with many officers meeting the criteria for lifetime abuse or dependence on alcohol (Sutton, 2011). Many police departments ignore, deny, or even rationalize alcohol addiction among their officers. A study of over 1,300 police officers found the three factors officers reported for drinking alcohol was stress, social, and fitting in, and another study found alcohol use as a coping mechanism as a factor. (Sutton, 2011).
One reason alcohol use among police officers is so high, is the positive affect alcohol has on the central nervous system (CNS), which immediately influences the officer’s emotional state by briefly relieving tension and accentuating a good mood. Police officers who drink alcohol daily may have difficulty shutting down the stimulation of their CNS experiences during high-stress situations, disinhibiting their body’s reaction (Sutton, 2011). Alcohol is not the only vice many police officers struggle with. The physical nature of police work combined with the weight of the equipment officers carry around their waist, often results in back injuries. Many officers are prescribed pain killers to help with their back pain and become quickly addicted (Fucigna, 2019).
Department sick leave policies must afford an officer privacy when they are admitted to an inpatient program for substance abuse or mental health problems, and departments must not look at officers receiving treatment as a liability risk or for discipline. Departments must not immediately take an officer’s gun unless they are a danger to themselves or others or for disciplinary reasons, as the department’s culture will reflect the stigma if officers ask for and receive help (Fucigna, 2019). It is imperative that departments work with mental health professionals and their wellness team to develop an intervention that overcomes stigmatizing attitudes toward seeking psychological services when needed (Sutton, 2011). Privacy and personal safety concerns are two reasons why some officers dislike attending Alcohol Anonymous (A.A.) meetings. They fear the guy sitting next to them, maybe someone they just arrested. For optimal results, departments should consider combining professional treatment with a public safety A.A. group, as A.A. should be viewed as an adjunct to alcohol treatment (Sutton, 2011).