BabyMed Alcohol Abuse Evaluator

Are you drinking too much alcohol or not?
Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between alcohol use and alcohol abuse.
Experts in treating alcohol abuse use the CAGE questions below to help them find out whether a person has a drinking problem. These questions can apply to other drugs, too.

C = Cut Down
A = Annoyed
G = Guilty
E = Eye-Opener

Click HERE to start the interactive Alcohol Abuse Evaluator

• C     Have you ever tried to CUT down on the amount you use or quit using alcohol or other drugs? Answering yes to this means that the person has lost control and is trying to show himself or others that he can control his use. People with addiction can quit, but if they start using their drug or something that acts similarly on the brain again, they will lose control again.
• A     Have you ever been ANNOYED by others comments about your substance use? People usually only comment about someone's drinking or using drugs if they witness a problem from it.
• G     Have you ever felt GUILTY about something you said or did while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs? This can range from domestic violence under the influence to missing important family events such as children's school or sport activities.
• E     Have you ever needed an EYE-OPENER? This means that the person needs to use something the next morning, after using the day or night before, to stop withdrawal. Withdrawal is a physical array of symptoms that may include tremors, seizures, and hallucinations. Withdrawal occurs when people stop using sedative type drugs including alcohol and "nerve pills" and sleeping pills. These drugs include Valium, Xanax, and Restoril. It can also show up as poor sleep, mood changes such as being easily irritated, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. The last three are commonly seen with opiate withdrawal (drugs like heroin, codeine, Ultram, Darvon, and Oxycontin).

Click HERE to start the interactive Alcohol Abuse Evaluator

Source: Ewing JA. Detecting alcoholism: the CAGE questionnaire. JAMA 1984;22:1905–1907; Copyright 1984, American Medical Association

The adolescent CRAFFT questions:

A Brief Screening Test consisting of 6 questions for Adolescent Substance Abuse

1. Have you ever ridden in a CAR driven by someone (including yourself) who was "high" or had been using alcohol or drugs?
2. Do you ever use alcohol or drugs to RELAX, feel better about yourself, or fit in?
3. Do you ever use alcohol/drugs while you are by yourself, ALONE?
4. Do your family or FRIENDS ever tell you that you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?
5. Do you ever FORGET things you did while using alcohol or drugs?
6. Have you gotten into TROUBLE while you were using alcohol or drugs?

*2 or more YES answers suggest a significant problem.

This instrument was developed by John Knight, M.D., Boston Children's Hospita