Thursday was National First Responders Day to honor the men and women who put their lives at risk for others. This includes firefighters, police officers, paramedics and other frontline workers.
First responders deal with trauma and stress every day — some are in recovery for substance abuse, healing together at a program in Chester County tailored for their special needs.
Putting their lives on the line to keep us safe, first responders are a brave bunch.
“I’m a pretty tough cookie, I was a police officer for 20 years,” former police officer Claire Lang said.
For Lang, a former cop in Chester County, being tough took a devastating toll, a she spiraled into substance abuse. She lost her job and then her heart.
“Losing my kids has been the hardest thing that I’ve ever gone through and I’ve been through a lot,” Lang said.
It’s estimated up to 30% of first responders suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder and some grapple with addiction.
“We’d go to have a beer after a hard call or rough shift,” Leah Mariani, with Recovery Centers of America, said.
Read the full article on Recovery Centers For America Offers Program Specifically Designed To Help Struggling First Responders.
