Prevalence, pattern, and a leader’s intervention— The impact of alcohol abuse in police and public safety organizations

Abstract

Excessive alcohol consumption among police officers and public safety professionals continues to be an organizational challenge. Alcohol abuse brings about considerable mental, physiological, and behavioural consequences for employees and their families. The severity and impact of this problem is particularly pronounced for police officers. The intent of this paper is to bring greater attention to workplace performance and health issues caused by excessive alcohol consumption. To address this challenge, leaders are encouraged to develop evidence-based policies and interventions, break down barriers caused by stigma, and prioritize the health and recovery of affected employees.