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Who We Help

First Responders

Discover how our specialized programs can help you find  healing & recovery.

First Responders

Treatment For First Responders

First responders have among the most dangerous, demanding jobs. First responders include police, EMTs, firefighters, and anyone else who goes to the scene of an accident, crime, or emergency to provide assistance. The everyday work environment of first responders is plagued with stress and trauma, which are often underlying factors in developing substance use disorders. First responders’ drug and alcohol rehab programs available at Centric Behavioral Health consider the unique needs of these people who put their lives on the line daily.

Contact us today to learn more about our top-rated addiction treatment centers near you.

Treatment Options

Our world-class programs offer evidence-based treatment for substance abuse, dual-diagnosis and mental health conditions in boutique environments. From our expertly trained staff to our individualized treatment planning, when you choose one of our facilities you can trust you are in good hands.

We offer to help clients safely manage withdrawal symptoms surrounded by trusted medical professionals.

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Residential Inpatient

Our residential rehab programs offer you an immersive inpatient treatment experience personalized to your needs in treatment.

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Partial Hospitalization

The partial day programs at Centric facilities offers you a pathway to continued treatment on an outpatient basis.

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Intensive Outpatient

Our intensive outpatient programs provide day and night options for clients in need of flexibility when seeking treatment.

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Outpatient Treatment

The outpatient programs at Centric Behavioral Health offer a step-down level of care that aides in long-term success in recovery.

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Supportive Housing

We offer supportive housing for clients participating in our outpatient programs that provide clients with safety & accountability.

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We work with most major insurance carriers.

Centric Behavioral Health facilities work with most major health insurance carriers in order to provide effective, accessible treatment options for substance abuse and mental health.

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First Responders' Behavioral Health Concerns

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 30 percent of first responders develop behavioral health conditions. These include depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This compares to a rate of around 20 percent in the general population. Firefighters and other first responders have higher rates of suicide attempts and ideation than the general population.

First responders report higher problematic alcohol use rates than people not in this line of work. One study reported recent heavy or binge drinking in around 50 percent of male firefighters. Driving while intoxicated was reported in 9 percent. Among female firefighters, nearly 89 percent said they’d had alcohol in the past month.

In a study of police officers after Hurricane Katrina, significant links were found between working on relief efforts and dangerously heavy drinking. In various studies, the prevalence of alcohol misuse in first responders has ranged from 16 to 40 percent.

Another substance use issue for people in these careers is prescription pain medication misuse. Prescription opioids are often prescribed when first responders experience injuries, but these are highly addictive.

Centric Health offers first responders’ addiction treatment programs that focus on the specific patterns of substance use and the needs of people who work in these career fields.

Substance Use Risk Factors

Addiction risk factors common in first responders include:

  • Ongoing trauma exposure. The effects of cumulative trauma exposure throughout someone’s career can cause PTSD symptoms, including sleep disruption, irritability, physical pain, isolation, and high rates of substance use.
  • Someone working as a first responder is more likely to experience physical injuries and pain because of the nature of their work.
  • First responders are expected to work long hours and stay awake for extended periods. Then, they might use substances to unwind or fall asleep when they can.
  • Long hours can also contribute to time spent away from family members and loved ones, with isolation being a risk factor for addiction.
  • There’s a sense of stigma among first responders about seeking mental health care or addiction treatment. First responders might worry they’ll appear weak or unfit to do their jobs.

At Centric Behavioral Health, we work with first responders so they can receive treatment for mental health disorders and substance use disorders, allowing them to thrive in recovery.

Begin Your Journey

Your journey to wellness begins at one of Centric Behavioral Health’s top-rated programs around the country. Our caring admissions team is standing by ready to help you right now.

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Finding an Effective First Responders'
Drug Rehab Program

First responders are in high-stress, often life-threatening situations as part of their work, which is different from what most people experience. Some of the things that have to be considered effective in first responders’ drug and alcohol rehab programs include:

  • The effects of trauma are often an underlying element of substance use disorders in first responders. Treatment programs must be trauma-informed.
  • Some first responders may feel reluctant to receive addiction treatment or mental health care, so these concerns or this sense of resistance are a part of planning treatment.
  • Along with trauma, since people who work as first responders have higher rates of mental health disorders like depression, dual-diagnosis treatment is often the best option. Dual diagnosis treatment looks at treating the substance use disorder and the underlying mental health disorders that may contribute to or worsen addiction. If you treat one without the other, the likelihood of a long-term recovery is lower.

Centric Behavioral Health specifically works with first responders to provide addiction treatment programs.

Dual Diagnosis First Responders' Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs

Addiction treatment for first responders should take a dual diagnosis approach. Dual diagnosis first responders’ drug and alcohol rehab programs include mental health and addiction treatment. Mental health concerns often co-occurring with addiction include trauma disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, mood disorder, and personality disorders.

Someone with a co-occurring mental health disorder and an addiction will have unique experiences. For example, the mental health disorder symptoms may have occurred first, so the client started using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate or cope. There are also situations where substance use occurs first, contributing to developing a mental health disorder because of the effects on the brain.

In a dual-diagnosis addiction treatment program, both conditions are addressed separately but also within the context of one another.

Centric Behavioral Health offers dual-diagnosis addiction treatment for first responders in Florida and Tennessee and other facilities throughout the country.

Levels of Care in a First Responders' Drug Rehab Program

For many people with an addiction disorder, a continuum of care is the best approach for treatment. A continuum of care approach means someone will begin with higher care levels and a personalized treatment program. Then, as they become ready and develop more coping skills, they’ll move into lower levels of care.

This gradual approach to addiction treatment for first responders helps support long-term recovery and develop more accountability for recovery over time.

Levels of care that are part of a first responders’ drug rehab program can include:

The first step for most people in first responders’ addiction treatment programs is a medical detox. When someone uses drugs or alcohol, their body becomes dependent. When they stop, they may go through withdrawal. Medical detox provides support and, if needed, medications to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make this part of treatment more comfortable and manageable for clients.

After completing medical detox, the next part of addiction treatment for first responders may be an inpatient program, also known as residential rehab. There’s a high level of care and support; clients live onsite during this time. The environment is therapeutic and geared exclusively toward recovery, without outside triggers or influences.

A partial hospitalization program includes full-day treatment programs similar to a residential program. A client might participate in individual therapy, recovery groups during the day, and holistic therapies. Group therapies are often centered around first responders, so there’s a shared sense of support and understanding.

An IOP focuses primarily on group sessions but can include other formats. There’s a sense of flexibility, but the foundation of an IOP is to learn about the effects of addiction and strategies to overcome challenges in recovery.

When someone is ready, they might begin outpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment allows for accountability in a client’s recovery, so they can use the coping skills they’ve learned in higher levels of care.

For clients who may need it, supportive housing is available. Clients can continue participating in outpatient programming while living in an environment with safety and a sense of accountability for recovery.

Centric Behavioral Health offers all of the above levels of care for first responders seeking addiction treatment.

Get Help Today

If you’re a first responder, or your loved one is, we understand the challenges of this line of work and the mental health and addiction concerns it can create. If you are looking for addiction treatment services in Florida or Tennessee or near you, Centric Behavioral Health Can help. If you’d like to learn more about our inpatient drug rehab centers, contact us today.

Please contact Centric Behavioral Health to learn about our addiction treatment for first responders, with facilities in Florida and Tennessee and other locations nationwide.

Let Us Help You Learn to Thrive

Centric Behavioral Health is dedicated to helping others. Our mission is to connect those who contact us with our trusted treatment programs around the country. Contact us today to learn more about our expert programs and how we can help you find long-term healing today.

Call Us: (844) 233-8205