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Screenings are procedures to recognize individuals with a substance abuse
disorder or at risk for this disorder before obvious manifestations of
the disorder are apparent. Not a definitive diagnostic tool, they can
signal the need for further evaluation or a brief intervention.
What are Brief Interventions?
Brief interventions are a series of up to four short counseling sessions
to discuss problem drinking and its health risks. These sessions may
last from five to fifteen minutes each; the entire intervention doesn't
usually take more than one hour.
Why do Screenings and/or Brief Interventions?
One in five men and one in ten women who visit their primary care
providers meet the criteria for at-risk drinking, problem drinking or
alcohol dependence. When patients are found to be at-risk or problem
drinkers, health care providers can significantly reduce alcohol use and
health related problems by providing Screenings and/or Brief
Interventions.
Recommended Steps
Recommended screening and brief intervention procedures include four steps:
Step I. ASK about alcohol use.
Step II. ASSESS for alcohol-related problems.
Step III. ADVISE patient to decrease substance use.
Step IV. MONITOR patient progress.
CAGE
The CAGE instrument has been shown to be both sensitive and specific to
identifying persons who meet criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence.
Questions asked include, In the past year:
- Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?
- Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
- Have you ever felt Guilty about your drinking?
- Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your
nerves or get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?
One or more “yes” responses constitutes a positive screening test.
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