THAT STRESS TAKES ITS TOLL ON POLICE IS SHOWN BY A NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STUDY WHICH FOUND THAT 37 PERCENT OF THE POLICE STUDIED HAD SERIOUS MARITAL PROBLEMS, 23 PERCENT HAD SERIOUS ALCOHOL PROBLEMS, AND 10 PERCENT HAD SIGNIFICANT DRUG PROBLEMS. THE STUDY ALSO REVEALED THAT POLICE HAD A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATE OF PREMATURE DEATH THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION AND RANKED THIRD AMONG OCCUPATIONS IN SUICIDE RATE. SEVERAL AMERICAN POLICE FORCES HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT STRESS AND ITS CONSEQUENCES ARE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS AS WELL AS PERSONAL PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY EFFECT THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FORCE. SOME DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS HAVE FOCUSED ON COUNTERING THE PHYSICALLY DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF TENSION BY INSTITUTING PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF POOR PHYSICAL CONDITION AND TO DISSIPATE STRESS THROUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. OTHER PROGRAMS CONCENTRATE ON THE STRESS PRODUCED BY POLICE INTERACTION WITH OTHERS. SOME TRAINING PROGRAMS IMPART AWARENESS OF JOB-RELATED STRESS AND TEACH TECHNIQUES OF STRESS MANAGEMENT. WEEKLY GROUP 'RAP SESSIONS' AS WELL AS PEER COUNSELING ARE PART OF THE BOSTON (MASS.) POLICE STRESS PROGRAM. NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ALCOHOLISM PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED BY A STAFF OF TRAINED COUNSELORS, ALL OF THEM POLICE OFFICERS WHO FORMERLY HAD DRINKING PROBLEMS. ANOTHER APPROACH ADDRESSES ITSELF TO THE PROBLEMS STRESS CAN CREATE FOR THE POLICE FAMILY. IN ST LOUIS, MO., THE FAMILIES OF RECRUITS ARE TAUGHT ABOUT THE JOB AND PREPARED FOR THE DIFFICULTIES THEY MAY FACE. OTHER TECHNIQUES USED BY AMERICAN POLICE FORCES TO DEAL WITH POLICE STRESS INCLUDE BIO-FEEDBACK METHODS TO HELP OFFICERS LEARN TO RELAX, PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING OF RECRUITS TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHO WILL HAVE THE GREATEST DIFFICULTIES IN HANDLING STRESS, COUNSELING FOR COMPULSIVE GAMBLING, AND SUPPORT THERAPY FOR OFFICERS INVOLVED IN FATAL SHOOTINGS. SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS ON POLICE STRESS AND POLICE MENTAL HEALTH ARE ALSO PROVIDED. (RCB)