Recovery from substance use disorder presents unique challenges for first responders that civilian treatment programs and support groups may not fully address. The very qualities that make you effective in emergency situations—independence, emotional control, trauma exposure tolerance, and professional identity—can become barriers to accepting help and connecting with others in recovery.

This self-assessment is designed specifically for first responders—police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, dispatchers, and other emergency personnel—who are in recovery from substance use disorder. It helps identify patterns of "comparing out", the tendency to focus on differences rather than similarities with others in recovery, particularly civilians.

This assessment explores both obvious and subtle forms of comparison that may impact your recovery as a first responder. There are no right or wrong answers—the goal is honest reflection about how your professional identity might be limiting your recovery potential.

While your experiences as a first responder are indeed unique and deserve recognition, recovery fundamentally depends on finding common ground with others who understand addiction from the inside. The internal experience of losing control over substances, regardless of external circumstances or professional competence, creates shared understanding that transcends occupational differences. This assessment will help you identify where comparison thinking might be preventing you from accessing the full benefits of recovery community and support.