Alcohol misuse has been a persistent concern in the U.S. fire service. More than a decade ago in a national survey by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, a disturbingly large number of firefighters reported instances of on-duty intoxication, missed days of work due to alcohol use, and alcohol-related public misconduct among firefighters in their departments. Data collected since that survey suggest the epidemic of problem drinking has not improved.

 The purpose of this monograph is to encourage and support those difficult conversations and to provide guidance on what fire departments can do to address alcohol use among its members. We hope to raise awareness of how alcohol use impacts the health and safety of firefighters, to provide a valuable and easily accessible source of information for firefighters, and to provide a rationale for excessive drinking prevention interventions that will be deployed and tested in the fire service.

Our goal is that every firefighter returns home from his or her shift safe and healthy and comes to work in the best psychological and physical shape. We also want to help firefighters develop practices that minimize the chances of developing alcohol problems post-retirement.

Several scientists and fire service leaders contributed to the chapters in this monograph or provided comments on early drafts. Author bios are provided in the appendix.

We plan for this to be a “living document” that can be modified and updated as new information and ideas develop over time.

If you have suggestions, new information, or comments please forward them to training@theinnovationscorp.com.