Welcome to Hero Dose!

Every day, first responders across the country go to work not expecting gratitude in return, but feeling grateful for the chance to make a difference — saving lives, willing to pay the ultimate price. They carry stories no one else hears and wounds no one else sees. When the dust settles, many are left alone with the weight of trauma, depression, and anxiety. They may not realize how any given day could impact their future.

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Challenges:

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Depression, PTSD, Anxiety: First responders—including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel—experience significantly higher rates of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation compared to the general population. Studies show up to 35% of police officers and 50% of firefighters may experience PTSD, while depression and anxiety rates among EMS workers during the pandemic reached over 30%.

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Suicide risk: Suicide risk is significantly elevated compared to the general population. Law enforcement officers (LEOs) face a 54% higher risk of suicide, while firefighters exhibit a proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) of 172, indicating a 72% greater likelihood of dying by suicide than the average U.S. worker. EMS clinicians also experience a heightened risk, with a PMR of 124, reflecting a 24% increase over the general working population. These statistics underscore the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions and support systems within first responder communities.

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Stigma and Underreporting: Many first responders may avoid seeking help due to stigma or fear of being deemed unfit for duty, leading to underreporting of mental health issues and suicides. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among first responders. In 2017, there were at least 103 firefighter suicides and 140 police officer suicides, exceeding line-of-duty deaths in both groups. Years of cumulative stress, shift work, and repeated exposure to trauma take a toll not only on mental health but also on the adrenal system, sleep cycles, and overall neurological function. Traditional treatments often fall short — or take years to bring peace.

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About:

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Hero Dose is a nonprofit dedicated to bridging that gap — facilitating access to innovative, alternative medical treatments that offer real healing for those who’ve given everything.

Founded by individuals who have worn the badge and served on the front lines, we possess firsthand insight into the cumulative effects of trauma, burnout, and the unseen psychological toll of years of dedicated service. Hero Dose exists to address the gaps — when traditional mental health care isn't enough, takes too long, or simply doesn’t reach the root of the pain.

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Psychedelics, bridge to the unconscious:

 

Some alternative medicines offer a sudden clearing—where the self dissolves, and what remains is presence in its purest form. Others move through memory and symbol, illuminating long-forgotten inner terrain with clarity and depth. And some work quietly over time, restoring balance, sharpening perception, and reawakening a sense of connection to what once felt distant. For those seeking renewal—emotionally, spiritually, or creatively—these experiences can act as catalysts. Not by adding something new, but by revealing what was always there, beneath the noise. In the silence that follows, insight can emerge—not as instruction, but as recognition.

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Our Mission:

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To facilitate access to safe, effective, and evidence-informed alternative treatments — including psychedelic therapy — for former police officers, firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, and other emergency professionals living with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and related conditions.

We aim to:

• Facilitate and sponsor treatment access for those in need

• Advocate for responsible, science-backed use of alternative medicine

• Destigmatize the conversation around first responder mental health

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