First Responder, Top Priority: Paramedic PTSD and Addiction

Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians are in one of the highest-stress jobs in the world. Every day, these brave men and women are the first people called on in medical emergencies. They are under enormous pressure and time constraints in a constant battle to save lives and treat injuries. That pressure and stress can often manifest itself in harmful ways, through both Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse and addiction.

The statistics about paramedic PTSD and addiction are staggering:

• Paramedics face the highest rate of PTSD among all emergency service workers. At 14.6%, the rate of PTSD is higher than both firefighters (7.3%) and police (4.7%).
• One British study showed that more than 20% of paramedics responded had evidence of PTSD
• A survey showed high levels of depression (28%), alcohol abuse (24%), and alcohol dependence (8%) among paramedic trainees
• As a matter of fact, this problem of paramedic PTSD and addiction has grown so widespread an acclaimed documentary called After the Sirens came out in 2018. You can read more about this documentary here.

This is a growing problem – and one that demands action as quickly and as effectively as possible. Transformations Treatment Center is ready to help.

Paramedic PTSD and Addiction: The Triggers

As mentioned before, paramedics and first responders face an incredibly tough and stressful job. There is the daily pressure of having the lives of severely injured people in their hands, combined with the constant race to get injured people to the hospital in time. They may see horrific injuries on a daily basis. Patients may be violent or angry to them, especially those in the throes of drug addiction. Paramedics in areas with high levels of drug addiction may face the added stress of dealing with the same patients over and over again.

Paramedics also may go to the scenes of extremely violent events, from shootings and stabbings to sexual assaults and fires. These waves of traumatic experiences can build up in the brain over time, causing an enormous amount of stress and pain to the brain and to the spirit. Combine those on-the-job problems long shifts, under-staffing, and other personal stresses, and its an environment that is ripe for PTSD, substance abuse and addiction.

Compounding the problem is the easy access many paramedics have to drugs of abuse. For paramedics under these types of stresses, they may try to find an escape with the very drugs meant to save the lives of others.

Paramedic PTSD and Addiction: How Transformations Can Help

Transformations Treatment Center offers a comprehensive program to help out the brave men and women suffering through the problems their jobs have brought them. The unique First Responder Program at Transformations Treatment Center came from a first responder that is also a masters-level psychologist. This program is for the unique stresses that paramedics and other first responders faces. Additionally, Transformations offers a program specifically for paramedics and first responders who have PTSD called Help For Our Heroes. Together, these programs have successfully treated hundreds of emergency personnel nationwide.

With the programs at Transformations, participants go into either an Adult or Young Adult Program. They also have the choice of a 12-step traditional program or a 12-step Christian/faith-based program. Services within the First Responders program include:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trauma therapy and evidence-based neurofeedback support, providing high-tech help to first responders
• A “Serenity Lounge” for relaxation, stress relief, and creating balance
• Holistic nutrition, natural supplements, a health club, and private trainer to manage diet and maintain physical fitness
• Beach time and scheduled pool times, along with a non-institutional setting that includes a queen-sized bed and private bathroom
• Individual and group therapy to identify problem areas and work with trained specialists
• Dual diagnosis, with a psychiatrist to assess psychiatric disorders, supervise medication, and assist in treatment

With the help of Transformations, paramedics can get the help they need in order to cope with difficult times and help manage the trauma they have witnessed. The program will also help rebuild family relationships that may have suffered along with the addictions and PTSD. It also identifies the triggers that begin the process of substance abuse and details how paramedics can effectively deal with them. The Transformations work with first responders also includes ways to help with anger management along with suicide awareness and prevention efforts.

Getting Started With Transformations

To explore more about how Transformations can help first responders, please visit www.helpforourheroes.com or to contact to an admissions specialist for immediate help, please call 888-919-2561.

Paramedic PTSD and Addiction: How Transformations Can Help

Transformations Treatment Center offers a comprehensive program to help out the brave men and women suffering through the problems their jobs have brought them. The unique First Responder Program at Transformations Treatment Center came from a first responder that is also a masters-level psychologist. This program is for the unique stresses that paramedics and other first responders faces. Additionally, Transformations offers a program specifically for paramedics and first responders who have PTSD called Help For Our Heroes. Together, these programs have successfully treated hundreds of emergency personnel nationwide.

With the programs at Transformations, participants go into either an Adult or Young Adult Program. They also have the choice of a 12-step traditional program or a 12-step Christian/faith-based program. Services within the First Responders program include:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trauma therapy and evidence-based neurofeedback support, providing high-tech help to first responders
• A “Serenity Lounge” for relaxation, stress relief, and creating balance
• Holistic nutrition, natural supplements, a health club, and private trainer to manage diet and maintain physical fitness
• Beach time and scheduled pool times, along with a non-institutional setting that includes a queen-sized bed and private bathroom
• Individual and group therapy to identify problem areas and work with trained specialists
• Dual diagnosis, with a psychiatrist to assess psychiatric disorders, supervise medication, and assist in treatment

With the help of Transformations, paramedics can get the help they need in order to cope with difficult times and help manage the trauma they have witnessed. The program will also help rebuild family relationships that may have suffered along with the addictions and PTSD. It also identifies the triggers that begin the process of substance abuse and details how paramedics can effectively deal with them. The Transformations work with first responders also includes ways to help with anger management along with suicide awareness and prevention efforts.

Getting Started With Transformations

To explore more about how Transformations can help first responders, please visit www.helpforourheroes.com or to contact to an admissions specialist for immediate help, please call 888-919-2561.