AID IN FULL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33
depression and high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, pro-
mote a psychological diet or inoculation to be prescribed in
conjunction with an annual physical. Agencies, including the
military, execute this approach through an evidence-based
quality-of-life scorecard. The score could recommend if sup-
port is needed, and doing it through a physician, of course,
maintains the confidentiality.
If you feel like you have no one to talk to because of your
shame and embarrassment. If the triggers from the street cor-
ners, smells or the news prevent you from getting your mind off
of it. If you feel like you’re coming undone, you can’t sleep and
fear losing your weapon, your badge or your job, then a treat-
ment facility might be the only place to get help.
The helping hands at places like Princeton House and Florida
House come from first responders – police officers, corrections
officers and firefighters who are in the program or have been
through it. They have all come through with the same trepida-
tion.
“They come in facing great uncertainty,” Florida House Na-
tional Outreach Coordinator Jeff Weinstein expresses. “They
don’t seek help until they get caught, and they are here because
somebody else had the desire for them to get well.”
The continuum of care is very regimented, which appeals
to most law enforcement officers. There are challenges at ev-
ery step. And there are measured results to show how coming
through the program gets you past self-destructive behavior.
“They leave not only feeling physically better but mentally
getting back to where they have been before the trauma, the al-
cohol or the drugs,” Weinstein adds. “They leave with a level of
confidence and with a level of understanding of their emotional
triggers.”
34
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ JANUARY 2018
The NJ State PBA has conducted Peer Assistance training sessions to help
members recognize sisters and brothers in need of help dealing with their
mental health issues and substance abuse problems.
Anthony Weedo recalls how the job destroyed him, how he
could fly off the handle at any second. His best friend on the
job was a gambler, so gambling became his escape too. He lived
right by the Meadowlands and went to the track every other day.
In between were trips to Atlantic City. He gambled to live and
lived to gamble.
He wound up in an emergency room in Vegas late one night
when he called Cop2Cop. Retired Officer Bill Ussery answered
the call and in a few hours had Weedo on a plane to a treatment
facility in Florida. He did three months there and has not left
Florida since. He has an apartment, a car and about as close as
he comes to gambling is buying a few lottery tickets now and
then.
He must take it one day at a time, but in making the call for
help he regained what he lost a long time ago: faith.
“If you’re at the lowest point in your life and you need help,
it’s available and it works,” Weedo validates. “We all have our ad-
dictions, but you just have to dial the number. Believe me. I’m
living proof.”
With an emphasis on living. d