Do you have a drinking problem?
The CAGE questionnaire was selected for evaluation because it is one of the most widely used screening tests for alcoholism. It was developed originally to identify the "hidden alcoholic" in hospital settings and primary care settings.

This test is anonymous and the results are not saved.

Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?

Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

YES
NO

How to score:
Item responses on the CAGE are scored 0 for No or 1 for yes, with a higher score an indication of alcohol problems. A total score of 2 or greater is considered clinically significant.

Developed by Dr. John Ewing, founding Director of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CAGE is an internationally used assessment instrument for identifying alcoholics. It is particularly popular with primary care givers. CAGE has been translated into several languages.

For more tests:
Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST)

Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST).

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).

FAQ's

Why do people drink alcoholic beverages (beer, distilled spirits, or wine)?

Positive reasons for drinking alcoholic beverages include:
Celebrating significant occasions with friends or loved ones.
Enhancing enjoyment of social activities and relaxation.
Complementing certain meals.
Participating in religious ceremonies.
Enjoying the taste as a beverage of choice.

Negative reasons for drinking alcoholic beverages include:
Escaping from tension or worries.
Blocking out painful feelings such as fear, loneliness, and self-doubt.
Attempting to relate better to people.
As a substitute for meaningful relationships with people.
Finding courage or strength to face certain situations.

What are symptoms of alcoholism?

Only a qualified professional can determine if an individual is alcoholic. However, the following warning signals may indicate the presence of alcohol-related problems. Generally, these signals involve later stages of alcoholism and involve symptoms that may be unrelated to time periods and drinking patterns.

• Drinking increasing amounts of alcohol and becoming intoxicated often.
• Being preoccupied with drinking, to the exclusion of other activities.
• Making, but readily breaking, promises to quit or control drinking.
• Experiencing "black outs", i.e., unable to remember what he/she said or did when drinking.
• Experiencing personality changes, i.e., tense, irritable, denies or conceals drinking, wide mood swings.
• Making excuses for drinking.
• Drinking alone, in the morning or before a party.
• Refusing to admit to excessive drinking and becoming angry if someone mentions it.
• Having trouble on the job or at school, i.e., misses work or school, is frequently tardy, has conflicts with coworkers or fellow students.
• Changing jobs frequently and/or is usually demoted, rarely promoted.
• Losing interest in personal appearance or hygiene.
• Suffering from poor health, e.g., loss of appetite, respiratory infections, nervousness.
• Having several arrests for drunken driving or other alcohol-related incidents.
• Suffering from family, marital, academic, and/or economic hardships.
• Spending a great deal of time overcoming hangovers.
  In final stages, experiencing grave social, financial, and personal damage.

Is the person who regularly takes a cocktail before dinner an alcoholic?

Not necessarily. Drinking every day - in and of itself - does not indicate alcoholism. Many people drink every day for a variety of reasons with no subsequent problems. The question to ask is: "Do I need that drink?" If the answer is "No" and you can control the amount of alcohol you drink, then more than likely you are not an alcoholic.

Is there such a thing as a weekend alcoholic?

Yes. Alcoholism is a complex illness and involves symptoms that may be unrelated to time periods and drinking patterns. Not everyone exhibits the same symptoms.

What is social drinking? How much does a social drinker drink?

Social drinking is not based on - nor defined by - a certain number of drinks. While lacking an exact definition, social drinking usually takes place with two or more participants, is satisfying to the drinker and participants, and does not impede the drinker's health, interpersonal relations, or economic functioning.

A social drinker respects alcohol and its effect on the body, consumes alcohol according to family and social customs, and realizes that alcohol complements the pleasures of life. For the social drinker, drinking is not an end in itself but an accompaniment to other activities.

What distinguishes a social drinker from an alcoholic?

Loss of control. A social drinker has control over when, where, and how much he/she drinks. An alcoholic has lost this ability and after beginning to drink, usually drinks to intoxication.

What type of person is an alcoholic?

There is no typical alcoholic. Anyone can abuse alcohol and become and alcoholic. Current studies show an increasing number of alcoholic women, teenagers, and children, some as young as 10 years old. There is also a rising number of alcoholics among senior citizens. It is estimated that as many as one out of ten people over age 60 have alcohol-related problems.

What is denial?

Denial occurs when a person refuses to believe that alcohol-related symptoms are caused by excessive drinking. Denial is a major obstacle to alcoholic recovery.

What is the difference between denial and rationalization?

With denial, the alcoholic believes that drinking has nothing to do with his/her problems. With rationalization, the alcoholic attempts to find logical reasons for drinking, by confining drinking to certain occasions - e.g., "I'll drink because it's my birthday" or "I'll drink because it'll help me unwind" - without the ability to control drinking during any of these occasions.

Why do alcoholics refuse to recognize their problem with alcohol?

The effects of chronic intoxication interfere with thinking and impairs attitude, behavior, and personality. The alcoholic is incapable of recognizing the serious harm caused by heavy, repeated use of alcohol. Until drinking stops, the brain does not function normally. These effects may last for weeks or months, but they are mostly reversible.

How can you help an alcoholic who does not want help?

First, learn as much about alcohol, alcohol abuse, and alcoholism so that you may be better able to deal with the problems of alcoholism and some of your own feelings about the problem. Next, talk to the person about their behavior changes that result from drinking. Be firm, considerate, single-minded, and focus on the drinking behavior, not the reasons for drinking. Some alcoholics always find a reason to drink. Be specific: point out times when drinking interfered with the person's life.

Offer hope. Alcoholism is a treatable illness. Between one-third to two-thirds of all people who seek help actually recover from alcoholism when the first step is taken to stop all alcohol consumption. Since many alcoholics lapse again into heavy drinking, patience and encouragement can help the alcoholic regain sobriety.

Finally, remember that the worst thing to do is to ignore the problem and hope that it will go away.

What is an intervention?

In the book Intervention, Vernon E. Johnson describes intervention as a "process by which the harmful, progressive, and destructive effects of chemical dependency are interrupted and the chemically dependent person is helped to stop using mood-altering chemicals [e.g., alcohol] and to develop new, healthier ways for coping with his or her needs and problems." The ultimate goal of an intervention is to get the alcoholic into a treatment program.

How does an intervention work?

Intervention occurs when the alcoholic person is in denial or does not seem to want to accept any help and loved ones, relatives, and even employers decide that it is time to step in and take action. They do this to help the alcoholic to recover a sober and healthy life.

Under the guidance of a professional, an intervention team forms, made up of two or more people who are concerned and close to the alcoholic and who have first-hand knowledge of the alcoholic's symptoms or behavior.

The team meets and, in an objective and caring way, the alcoholic is confronted with the facts about his/her drinking. By using specific examples of the alcoholic's drinking behavior, the team attacks the alcoholic's wall of defenses. the alcoholic meets head-on with the reality of the effects of alcoholism. This process causes discomfort and upset. The alcoholic is shaken out of denial and this may lead to agreement to seek help.

What attitude should I have toward a problem drinking spouse?

Don't blame yourself for your spouse's alcoholism. An alcoholic can be very clever in shifting the responsibility for drinking to others and may use your feelings of caring to cause feelings of guilt within you. You are not responsible for the illness that affects your spouse and you cannot control or change alcohol-related behavior. Seek professional help for your spouse, yourself, and other family members.

How do you handle children experimenting with alcohol if one or both parents is a recovering alcoholic?

One way to prevent alcohol abuse is to give children accurate information about alcohol, its properties, and its effects on the body. If a child is well informed about the important aspects of alcohol and has a feeling of self-confidence, chances of abusing alcohol are greatly reduced. "Scare tactics" should not be used to change undesirable behavior. Clear expectations and rules are important and discipline should be consistent if rules are broken. Finally, seek professional help.

What if I'm the child of an alcoholic?

Just remember that you are not the cause of your parent's drinking; it is an illness. You are not responsible for their actions. It does not mean that you are a "bad" person and you should not feel guilty. If you are really upset about a parent's drinking, you should try to get professional help.

How does an alcoholic recover from alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a chronic progressive illness. While there is no medical cure for the illness, many alcoholics do "arrest" it; i.e., stop its progress with medication and training.