COAST GUARD EPME EXAMS SCRIPT 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔Substance Abuse Prevention Program intentions - ✔✔Intentions include: Reducing
substance abuse incidents, Promoting a drug-free workforce, Educating members on
risks.
✔✔NIAAA low-risk guidelines - ✔✔Suggest that 'zero' drinks is the low risk option when
driving, pregnant, or underage.
✔✔Low-risk alcohol use model - ✔✔The 0-1-2-3 model: 0 (if driving), 1 (drink per hour),
2 (drinks per day for women), 3 (drinks per day for men).
✔✔Clarification on low-risk drinking guidelines - ✔✔Available on the NIAAA website or
Coast Guard Substance Abuse Prevention Program resources.
✔✔Command Drug and Alcohol Representative (CDAR) responsibility - ✔✔Conducting
substance abuse awareness training or coordinating screenings.
✔✔Substance Abuse Prime for Life training - ✔✔Used to educate members on
substance abuse risks and prevention.
✔✔Substance abuse definition - ✔✔Substance abuse is the harmful or hazardous use
of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and drugs, leading to impaired
performance or health.
✔✔BAC and alcohol-related harm - ✔✔According to the NIAAA, as an individual's BAC
increases, the risk of alcohol-related harm (e.g., accidents, injury) increases.
✔✔Long-term drinking risks - ✔✔According to the NIAAA, drinking too much over time
can raise your risk for heart disease, cancer, liver disease, and other illnesses.
✔✔Alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. - ✔✔According to the NIAAA, more than 95,000
people die from alcohol-related causes in the United States each year.
✔✔High tolerance for alcohol - ✔✔Being able to 'hold your liquor' or having a high
tolerance for alcohol is a sign of potential alcohol dependency, not a virtue.
✔✔Binge drinking for men - ✔✔Considered 5 or more drinks in about 2 hours.
✔✔Binge drinking for women - ✔✔Considered 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours.
✔✔Binge drinking BAC threshold - ✔✔Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that brings
BAC to 0.08% or higher.
,✔✔BAC and intoxication stages - ✔✔BAC associated with stages of intoxication:
Slightly impaired: 0.02-0.05%, 'Sloppy' drunk: 0.10-0.20%, Stupor or blackout: 0.25-
0.35%, Coma and risk of death: 0.40%+.
✔✔Sign of alcohol poisoning - ✔✔A sign of alcohol poisoning is...
✔✔Sign of alcohol poisoning - ✔✔Vomiting, unconsciousness, or slow breathing.
✔✔Youth who drink alcohol - ✔✔More likely to experience academic problems, injuries,
or risky behavior.
✔✔Reason women face higher risks of drinking alcohol - ✔✔Lower body water content
(leads to higher BAC).
✔✔Standard drink for 80 proof hard liquor - ✔✔1.5 fluid ounces.
✔✔Grams of pure alcohol in a standard drink - ✔✔14 grams.
✔✔Fluid ounces of table wine in a standard drink - ✔✔5 fluid ounces.
✔✔Fluid ounces of beer in a standard drink - ✔✔12 fluid ounces.
✔✔BAC percentage for a 150-pound male who consumed 3 oz. of 40% alcohol over
one hour - ✔✔3 oz of 40% (80 proof) liquor = 2 standard drinks (1.5 oz each). For a
150-pound male, BAC after 1 hour is roughly 0.05-0.06% (accounting for metabolism).
✔✔Recorded BAC test for DUI - ✔✔0.08% or higher alcohol is proof of DUI without any
other evidence.
✔✔Analysis and diagnosis for potential alcohol incident - ✔✔Must be performed by a
medical professional for alcohol dependency or abuse.
✔✔Days for disqualification for enlistment due to drug/alcohol abuse - ✔✔Likely 180
days (common military entry standard).
✔✔Self-referral for potential substance abuse - ✔✔Likely includes notifying the chain of
command or contacting a CDAR.
✔✔Coast Guard policy on tobacco use and abuse - ✔✔Likely: 'The Coast Guard
discourages tobacco use and provides cessation resources.'
,✔✔Unauthorized use of a prescription drug - ✔✔Typically includes using someone
else's prescription medication, taking a higher dose than prescribed, or using a
prescription for non-medical purposes (e.g., recreational use).
✔✔Prohibited substance abuse - ✔✔In the Coast Guard likely includes use of illegal
drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine), misuse of prescription drugs, and excessive alcohol
consumption violating policy (e.g., on duty).
✔✔Drug incident - ✔✔Typically involves positive drug test result from urinalysis,
possession of illegal drugs, or use of a controlled substance without a prescription.
✔✔Urinalysis procedure - ✔✔The procedure employed to obtain urine samples under
controlled conditions, maintaining a chain of custody on each sample, and testing the
sample for prohibited substances (e.g., at a certified lab).
✔✔Consequence of a drug incident - ✔✔Typically includes administrative separation,
disciplinary action (e.g., NJP - Non-Judicial Punishment), and loss of security clearance
or advancement eligibility.
✔✔Definition of suicide - ✔✔Self-inflicted death with evidence, either explicit or implicit,
or intent to die.
✔✔Definition of self-harm or non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) - ✔✔A self-inflicted
potentially injurious behavior for which there is evidence, either implicit or explicit, that
the person did not intend to kill himself/herself.
✔✔Definition of suicidal ideation or suicide threat - ✔✔Any interpersonal action, verbal
or nonverbal, without a direct self-injurious component, passive or active, for which
there is evidence, either explicit or implicit, that the person is communicating that a
suicide-related behavior might occur in the near future.
✔✔Suicide attempt - ✔✔A self-inflicted potentially injurious behavior with a non-fatal
outcome for which there is evidence, either explicit or implicit, of intent to die.
✔✔Likely Self-Harm Level 1 - ✔✔Self-harm with no injury reported as a similar low-
severity classification.
✔✔Likely Self-Harm Level 2 - ✔✔Self-harm with injury reported as a moderate-severity
category.
✔✔Suicide - ✔✔Self-harm resulting in death reported as this term.
✔✔Suicide Attempt with Injury - ✔✔Suicide attempt resulting in injury reported as this
term.
, ✔✔Suicide Attempt without Injury - ✔✔Suicide attempt resulting in no injury reported as
this term.
✔✔Suicidal ideation - ✔✔Any self-reported thoughts of engaging in suicide-related
behaviors.
✔✔Self-Harm Level 3 - ✔✔Likely severe injury requiring medical intervention or a high-
risk act.
✔✔Self-injurious behavior or undetermined intent self-harm - ✔✔A self-inflicted
potentially injurious behavior where intent is unknown.
✔✔Suicidal threats or expressions of intent - ✔✔Dismissing these as 'manipulation' is
one of the surest ways to increase suicide risk.
✔✔Suicidal thought - ✔✔In one survey, more than half of 26,000 students across 70
colleges and universities reported having at least one of these at some point in their
lives.
✔✔Suicide-related communications - ✔✔Any interpersonal acts of imparting, conveying,
or transmitting suicide-related thoughts, wishes, desires, or intent; not to be construed
as the actual self-inflicted behavior or injury.
✔✔Suicide plan - ✔✔A proposed method of carrying out a design that can potentially
result in suicide-related behavior.
✔✔Suicide intent or detailed plan - ✔✔A systematic formulation of a program of action
that will potentially lead to suicide-related behaviors.
✔✔IS PATH WARM - ✔✔A mnemonic for recognizing warning signs and circumstances
associated with suicidal behavior.
✔✔Asking someone if they are thinking about suicide - ✔✔This is not an easy thing to
do, but it is essential for suicide prevention.
✔✔Expressing concern - ✔✔This may be helpful to lead into the question 'Are you
thinking about killing yourself?'
✔✔Likely ACE - ✔✔A mnemonic used as an aid for what to do when you suspect
someone is thinking of suicide: Ask directly, Care (show support), Escort to help.
✔✔Ask - ✔✔During this step of suicide prevention, the at-risk member may attempt to
make a joke or attempt to deflect the direct question.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔Substance Abuse Prevention Program intentions - ✔✔Intentions include: Reducing
substance abuse incidents, Promoting a drug-free workforce, Educating members on
risks.
✔✔NIAAA low-risk guidelines - ✔✔Suggest that 'zero' drinks is the low risk option when
driving, pregnant, or underage.
✔✔Low-risk alcohol use model - ✔✔The 0-1-2-3 model: 0 (if driving), 1 (drink per hour),
2 (drinks per day for women), 3 (drinks per day for men).
✔✔Clarification on low-risk drinking guidelines - ✔✔Available on the NIAAA website or
Coast Guard Substance Abuse Prevention Program resources.
✔✔Command Drug and Alcohol Representative (CDAR) responsibility - ✔✔Conducting
substance abuse awareness training or coordinating screenings.
✔✔Substance Abuse Prime for Life training - ✔✔Used to educate members on
substance abuse risks and prevention.
✔✔Substance abuse definition - ✔✔Substance abuse is the harmful or hazardous use
of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and drugs, leading to impaired
performance or health.
✔✔BAC and alcohol-related harm - ✔✔According to the NIAAA, as an individual's BAC
increases, the risk of alcohol-related harm (e.g., accidents, injury) increases.
✔✔Long-term drinking risks - ✔✔According to the NIAAA, drinking too much over time
can raise your risk for heart disease, cancer, liver disease, and other illnesses.
✔✔Alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. - ✔✔According to the NIAAA, more than 95,000
people die from alcohol-related causes in the United States each year.
✔✔High tolerance for alcohol - ✔✔Being able to 'hold your liquor' or having a high
tolerance for alcohol is a sign of potential alcohol dependency, not a virtue.
✔✔Binge drinking for men - ✔✔Considered 5 or more drinks in about 2 hours.
✔✔Binge drinking for women - ✔✔Considered 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours.
✔✔Binge drinking BAC threshold - ✔✔Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that brings
BAC to 0.08% or higher.
,✔✔BAC and intoxication stages - ✔✔BAC associated with stages of intoxication:
Slightly impaired: 0.02-0.05%, 'Sloppy' drunk: 0.10-0.20%, Stupor or blackout: 0.25-
0.35%, Coma and risk of death: 0.40%+.
✔✔Sign of alcohol poisoning - ✔✔A sign of alcohol poisoning is...
✔✔Sign of alcohol poisoning - ✔✔Vomiting, unconsciousness, or slow breathing.
✔✔Youth who drink alcohol - ✔✔More likely to experience academic problems, injuries,
or risky behavior.
✔✔Reason women face higher risks of drinking alcohol - ✔✔Lower body water content
(leads to higher BAC).
✔✔Standard drink for 80 proof hard liquor - ✔✔1.5 fluid ounces.
✔✔Grams of pure alcohol in a standard drink - ✔✔14 grams.
✔✔Fluid ounces of table wine in a standard drink - ✔✔5 fluid ounces.
✔✔Fluid ounces of beer in a standard drink - ✔✔12 fluid ounces.
✔✔BAC percentage for a 150-pound male who consumed 3 oz. of 40% alcohol over
one hour - ✔✔3 oz of 40% (80 proof) liquor = 2 standard drinks (1.5 oz each). For a
150-pound male, BAC after 1 hour is roughly 0.05-0.06% (accounting for metabolism).
✔✔Recorded BAC test for DUI - ✔✔0.08% or higher alcohol is proof of DUI without any
other evidence.
✔✔Analysis and diagnosis for potential alcohol incident - ✔✔Must be performed by a
medical professional for alcohol dependency or abuse.
✔✔Days for disqualification for enlistment due to drug/alcohol abuse - ✔✔Likely 180
days (common military entry standard).
✔✔Self-referral for potential substance abuse - ✔✔Likely includes notifying the chain of
command or contacting a CDAR.
✔✔Coast Guard policy on tobacco use and abuse - ✔✔Likely: 'The Coast Guard
discourages tobacco use and provides cessation resources.'
,✔✔Unauthorized use of a prescription drug - ✔✔Typically includes using someone
else's prescription medication, taking a higher dose than prescribed, or using a
prescription for non-medical purposes (e.g., recreational use).
✔✔Prohibited substance abuse - ✔✔In the Coast Guard likely includes use of illegal
drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine), misuse of prescription drugs, and excessive alcohol
consumption violating policy (e.g., on duty).
✔✔Drug incident - ✔✔Typically involves positive drug test result from urinalysis,
possession of illegal drugs, or use of a controlled substance without a prescription.
✔✔Urinalysis procedure - ✔✔The procedure employed to obtain urine samples under
controlled conditions, maintaining a chain of custody on each sample, and testing the
sample for prohibited substances (e.g., at a certified lab).
✔✔Consequence of a drug incident - ✔✔Typically includes administrative separation,
disciplinary action (e.g., NJP - Non-Judicial Punishment), and loss of security clearance
or advancement eligibility.
✔✔Definition of suicide - ✔✔Self-inflicted death with evidence, either explicit or implicit,
or intent to die.
✔✔Definition of self-harm or non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) - ✔✔A self-inflicted
potentially injurious behavior for which there is evidence, either implicit or explicit, that
the person did not intend to kill himself/herself.
✔✔Definition of suicidal ideation or suicide threat - ✔✔Any interpersonal action, verbal
or nonverbal, without a direct self-injurious component, passive or active, for which
there is evidence, either explicit or implicit, that the person is communicating that a
suicide-related behavior might occur in the near future.
✔✔Suicide attempt - ✔✔A self-inflicted potentially injurious behavior with a non-fatal
outcome for which there is evidence, either explicit or implicit, of intent to die.
✔✔Likely Self-Harm Level 1 - ✔✔Self-harm with no injury reported as a similar low-
severity classification.
✔✔Likely Self-Harm Level 2 - ✔✔Self-harm with injury reported as a moderate-severity
category.
✔✔Suicide - ✔✔Self-harm resulting in death reported as this term.
✔✔Suicide Attempt with Injury - ✔✔Suicide attempt resulting in injury reported as this
term.
, ✔✔Suicide Attempt without Injury - ✔✔Suicide attempt resulting in no injury reported as
this term.
✔✔Suicidal ideation - ✔✔Any self-reported thoughts of engaging in suicide-related
behaviors.
✔✔Self-Harm Level 3 - ✔✔Likely severe injury requiring medical intervention or a high-
risk act.
✔✔Self-injurious behavior or undetermined intent self-harm - ✔✔A self-inflicted
potentially injurious behavior where intent is unknown.
✔✔Suicidal threats or expressions of intent - ✔✔Dismissing these as 'manipulation' is
one of the surest ways to increase suicide risk.
✔✔Suicidal thought - ✔✔In one survey, more than half of 26,000 students across 70
colleges and universities reported having at least one of these at some point in their
lives.
✔✔Suicide-related communications - ✔✔Any interpersonal acts of imparting, conveying,
or transmitting suicide-related thoughts, wishes, desires, or intent; not to be construed
as the actual self-inflicted behavior or injury.
✔✔Suicide plan - ✔✔A proposed method of carrying out a design that can potentially
result in suicide-related behavior.
✔✔Suicide intent or detailed plan - ✔✔A systematic formulation of a program of action
that will potentially lead to suicide-related behaviors.
✔✔IS PATH WARM - ✔✔A mnemonic for recognizing warning signs and circumstances
associated with suicidal behavior.
✔✔Asking someone if they are thinking about suicide - ✔✔This is not an easy thing to
do, but it is essential for suicide prevention.
✔✔Expressing concern - ✔✔This may be helpful to lead into the question 'Are you
thinking about killing yourself?'
✔✔Likely ACE - ✔✔A mnemonic used as an aid for what to do when you suspect
someone is thinking of suicide: Ask directly, Care (show support), Escort to help.
✔✔Ask - ✔✔During this step of suicide prevention, the at-risk member may attempt to
make a joke or attempt to deflect the direct question.
