Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Help-Seeking for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Among Australian Public Safety...

Public safety personnel (PSP) (e.g., paramedics, firefighters, police and correctional officers) are at-risk of using alcohol and other drugs in ways that could be considered harmful, potentially in response to the high exposure to traumatic events as part of their job. While existing research has investigated help-seeking for mental health problems in PSP, to our knowledge, no studies have explored help-seeking for substance use, representing a critical gap. This study aimed to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for alcohol and other drug use among PSP, and examine their relationship with demographic, occupational, substance use and mental health characteristics.

An online survey was completed by 539 PSP. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified two barrier domains (attitudinal, structural) and three facilitator domains (workplace, interpersonal, structural). Structural equation modelling was used to examine associations with participant characteristics and endorsement of barriers and facilitators.

Confidentiality and career harm were the most endorsed barriers, while managerial support and workplace culture were the most endorsed facilitators. Psychological distress was positively associated with both barrier domains, while alcohol-related harm was negatively associated with barrier and facilitator domains. Age was the only significant demographic correlate, with older participants less likely to endorse workplace facilitators.

These findings highlight key modifiable factors that may promote help-seeking and inform tailored workplace interventions to support PSP in managing substance use. Further research exploring the use of alcohol or other drugs in PSP is needed to better support those working to protect our communities.