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Recommendations for Front Line Officers

How do you know when drinking is a problem?

Some warning signs include:

  • Drinking more than usual
  • Drinking to improve a bad mood
  • Making bad choices when drinking
  • Drinking enough to cause problems
  • Showing up late or missing work due to drinking or the after-effects of drinking
  • Making all social events center around drinking

CAGE Screening Tool

Using the CAGE Screening Tool45 is a subjective way of determining if you’re using alcohol is an abusive or excessive manner. If you believe you have a drinking problem, or if you believe a fellow officer might have a problem, seek help from a trusted source, and refer to the section below titled “Dealing with Alcohol Abuse.”

CUT DOWN

Have you ever felt you should CUT DOWN on your drinking?

ANNOYED

Have you felt ANNOYED when others criticize your drinking?

Guilty

Have you ever felt GUILTY about your drinking?

EYE-OPENER

Have you ever experienced an EYE-OPENER moment about your drinking, like realizing you need a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or soothe a hangover?

Dealing with Alcohol Abuse

  • Seek professional assistance
  • Minimize or totally avoid social situations, which provide access to unhealthy substances
  • Identify and minimize stress triggers
  • Develop an exercise regimen
  • Practice sleep hygiene to sleep better
  • Confide in a friend who will be supportive
  • Find healthy coping mechanisms such as meditating, stretching, listening to music, reading, and exercising

Related Publications

abcs-good-sleeping-habits

ABCs of Good sleeping habits

Valor Officer Safety and Wellness Program, Bureau of Justice Assistance

Always Be Consistent. This poster highlights the good sleep habits that you can follow to have quality sleep.

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an-empty-well-gives-no-water

An Empty Well Gives No Water

Valor Officer Safety and Wellness Program, Bureau of Justice Assistance

An empty well gives no water. This poster reinforces the need for self-care to “help fill your reserves.” Keep self-care at the forefront with this poster that you can hang in your locker or other high visibility locations.

Read More

This project was supported by cooperative agreement number 2016-VI-BX-K001 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

This report was prepared by the National Police Foundation (NPF). The National Police Foundation is the oldest nationally known, non-profit, non-partisan, and non-membership driven organization dedicated to advancing policing through innovation and science.

The internet references cited in this publication were valid as of the date of publication. Given that URLs and websites are in constant flux, the NPF cannot vouch for their current validity.

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