Binge drinking, job stressors, and resilience in a nationally representative sample of law enforcement officers

Abstract

Law enforcement officers experience high rates of stress associated with their work, potentially leading to alcohol use as a means of coping. Using data from a nationally representative survey of law enforcement officers in the U.S., we found that adjusted odds of binge drinking monthly or more frequently increased significantly with higher levels of administrative stress and each additional type of critical incident reported. Increased officer resilience had a significant association with decreased adjusted odds of binge drinking monthly or more frequently. Strategies for reducing stressors and building resiliency are important for reducing binge drinking and improving wellness among officers.