SAN ANTONIO \u2013 A San Antonio firefighter is now the center of a pilot program that allows him to help his fellow brothers and sisters dealing with substance misuse. <\/p>\n
His addition to the counseling team offers a professional therapist who also understands the trauma firefighters go through.<\/p>\n
Chris Raymond has worked for the San Antonio Fire Department for 22 years, spending the last 15 on the technical rescue team.<\/p>\n
His job in the department just shifted again, this time to the counseling team for a brand-new pilot program.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as we can tell, the research we\u2019ve done, it is the first of its kind, the only one in the nation. So right now, we\u2019re kind of on the cutting edge of things,\u201d Raymond said. <\/p>\n
He said it\u2019s not only the first to add a licensed chemical dependency counselor to a fire department team but also one that is a firefighter himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving a firefighter occupy the position of a clinician is unique. I don\u2019t sit in the seat and think, \u2018I wonder what that\u2019s like.\u2019 I\u2019ve lived it, and in many cases, I\u2019ve lived it with them,\u201d Raymond said. <\/p>\n
While the career is fulfilling, it can take its toll. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe share in the community\u2019s triumphs, but we also share in the community\u2019s tragedies \u2014 that proximity to trauma and the physicality of the job,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
While Raymond never misused substances himself, he has seen the struggle that comes after consistently witnessing tragedies<\/p>\n
\u201cNationwide, the fire service as a whole, we wrestle with an overconsumption of alcohol, and, in some cases, even prescription medicine misuse,\u201d Raymond said. <\/p>\n
Whether the substance use involves disease of addiction, or a way to cope with trauma, Raymond said the hardest part for first responders is the stigma.<\/p>\n
When preparing for the story KSAT asked Raymond if he could find a client to speak about their personal experience. However, none of them felt comfortable opening up about this issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stigma still exists. Addiction or substance-related issues, they tend to isolate us. When in actuality, a lot of people understand you, and you are not the only one,\u201d Raymond said. <\/p>\n
The department is trying to make sure every firefighter knows that.<\/p>\n
There are signs at every fire station with a QR code. All firefighters have to do is scan it, and it takes them to an internal website where there are different levels of support. <\/p>\n
The first level is peer support. There are more than 60 firefighters in the department trained to help each other. <\/p>\n
The next level would now be Raymond, the LCDC, and then the department psychologist who works in the health building, too.<\/p>\n
Raymond wanted to make it clear he treats the entire family, meaning he sees the family members of firefighters as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to be able to treat their spouses, their significant others, their children, and the administration gave a resounding, \u2018Yes, if that\u2019s what they need, then that\u2019s where we will treat,\u2019\u201d Raymond explained.<\/p>\n
He is trying to create an environment free of shame, planning social events for firefighters and their families that are alcohol and nicotine free. <\/p>\n
He even keeps a shelf full of products in his office that are alternatives to nicotine. <\/p>\n
The pilot program just started in mid-October, but Raymond is already seeing progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have seen an uptick in people feeling more comfortable to speak, which is great. I want this to be an all-encompassing place where the firefighters and their families know that they\u2019re cared for, that someone here understands, and that we\u2019re trying to get them all the help that we need,\u201d Raymond said.<\/p>\n
He hopes the program will eventually become permanent. <\/p>\n
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