First Responders And Drug Abuse: A Tragically Common Pairing

Who Are First Responders?

First responders endure large amounts of stress, anxiety and depression among their day-to-day experiences, all of which may make them more susceptible to drug use. Examples of first responders include:

• Police officers

• Security guards

• FBI agents

• Sheriffs

• TSA officers

• Firefighters

• Paramedics

• Dispatchers

• Lifeguards

• Red Cross members

• Fire Marshals

• US Marshals

The role of first responders is to quickly counter threatening or non-threatening emergencies impacting Americans with action. First responders are typically the first person to encounter a person or situation that requires medical or law enforcement help. Such emergencies include terrorist attacks; natural disasters, crime, trauma, and accidents (fires, health-related accidents).