Abstract
Law enforcement personnel face the challenge of misuse of alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription drugs. Police officers may themselves misuse substances, and they may be aware of misuse among their family members or colleagues. This paper assesses the extent of substance misuse among law enforcement personnel and provides lessons about how to structure effective prevention programs. Lessons are drawn from programs supported by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) cooperative agreements. Successful implementation of prevention programs requires support from top management; an understanding of workplace culture; awareness of substance use attitudes and patterns of employees, management, and union leadership; effective and regular communication; and other factors. The paper ends with a summary of SAMHSA workplace prevention resources relevant to the law enforcement workforce.
Recommended Citation
Ted R. Miller & Deborah M. Galvin,
Assessing and Responding to Substance Misuse in Law Enforcement,
40
S. Ill. U. L.J.
475
(2016).
Available at:
https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/siulj/vol40/iss3/7