Screening Tools for Alcoholism and Alcohol Use Disorders

CAGE Screening for Alcoholism

Cut down on drinking – have tried repeatedly without success
Annoyed by criticism about drinking habits
Guilty feelings about drinking
Eye opener drink needed in the morning

Answering” yes” to any of these questions signifies possible hazardous drinking.

_______________________________________________________________________________

AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) Questionnaire
Keep track of the number of points assigned to each answer and add up the numbers at the end of the questionnaire.

1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

• 0 – Never
• 1 – Monthly or less
• 2 – 2-4 times per month
• 3 – 2-3 times per week
• 4 – 4 or more times per week

2. How many drinks do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?

• 0 – None
• 1 – 1 or 2
• 2 – 3 or 4
• 3 – 5 or 6
• 4 – 7-9

3. How often do you have 6 or more drinks on one occasion?

• 0 – Never
• 1 – Less than monthly
• 2 – Monthly
• 3 – Weekly
• 4 – Daily or almost daily

4. How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?

• 0 – Never
• 1 – Less than monthly
• 2 – Monthly
• 3 – Weekly
• 4 – Daily or almost daily

5. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of drinking?

• 0 – Never
• 1 – Less than monthly
• 2 – Monthly
• 3 – Weekly
• 4 – Daily or almost daily

6. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?

• 0 – Never
• 1 – Less than monthly
• 2 – Monthly
• 3 – Weekly
• 4 – Daily or almost daily

7. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?

• 0 – Never
• 1 – Less than monthly
• 2 – Monthly
• 3 – Weekly
• 4 – Daily or almost daily

8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?

• 0 – Never
• 1 – Less than monthly
• 2 – Monthly
• 3 – Weekly
• 4 – Daily or almost daily

9. Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?

• 0 – Never
• 2 – Yes, but not in the last year
• 4 – Yes, during the last year

10. Has a relative or friend, or a doctor or other health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?

• 0 – Never
• 2 – Yes, but not in the last year
• 4 – Yes, during the last year

A total score of 8 or higher is considered positive for a possible alcohol use disorder.

For more information on this topic, read the HealthLink article Alcohol Use Disorders by Richard P. Lofgren, MD, MPH.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.