Stress reactions vary by characteristics of the personality, social support structure, life experiences, years of service, level of education, use of coping strategies, the intensity of the stressful event, and any unique features of the organization. A serious problem is that many police departments view police stress as an employee problem, not an organizational problem. Rarely is the bureaucraticized, paramilitary structure of the organization suspected of being the problem, although it probably is, and indeed, internal, departmental stressors are the most aggravating. It seems to be a phenomenon restricted largely to urban police officers. The rates are high possibly because of the stigma associated with illegal drugs.
Older officers have the highest rates, and there is significant female and minority involvement.
More recent studies have looked at drug use and abuse. The stressors of police work have been the subject of much effort at categorization. It is important to note that there is a difference between employee discipline and employee punishment, and that employee assistance is altogether different. It is a type of help aimed at the relief of stress in average, normal, healthy, productive workers at risk of developing an unresolvable, degenerative mental disorder. It bears some resemblance to psychological fitness testing, but is more than that.