Alcohol Use Screening Tests
Reviewed
Also called: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), AUDIT-C, Cut down Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (CAGE), Tolerance, Annoyed Cut down, Eye-opener (T-ACE), Screening with Brief Intervention (SBI) Tool
Alcohol use screening tests are questionnaires you answer about your alcohol use. Your responses are used to check for unhealthy alcohol use.
Specimen: None (questionnaire)
Why this test may be ordered
- Your provider may do a screening test as part of a routine health care visit.
- You may also have a screening test if a provider thinks that you could have a problem with alcohol.
- If your family, friends, or co-workers express concerns about your drinking, talk to your provider about getting a screening.
- Your provider may also recommend a screening if they notice signs and symptoms of an AUD.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for an alcohol use screening test.
Your primary care provider or a mental health provider may do an alcohol use screening. There are different types of alcohol use screening tests. But they each include questions about your drinking habits and how they may affect your life.
There is no risk in taking a questionnaire.
Understanding results
Some results may show whether you have AUD. Others may show you how severe your AUD may be.
- Mild (two to three symptoms of AUD): You have two to three symptoms of AUD. This pattern of drinking puts your health at risk and/or has harmful social effects on you or others. Limitation: If you have symptoms now, you may be at risk for more serious problems in the future. Next step: Your provider may recommend steps to help you change your drinking habits.
- Moderate (four or five symptoms of AUD): You have four or five symptoms of AUD. Limitation: Some people with AUD can change their behaviors to cut back on drinking. Other people will need to stop completely. Next step: Your provider may recommend a brief intervention or other treatments.
- Severe (six or more symptoms of AUD): You have six or more symptoms of AUD. You may need more intensive treatment. Limitation: Other people will need to stop completely. This is known as abstinence. Next step: This can include seeing a specialist, medicines, support groups, and/or addiction recovery programs.
- Screening tests are not diagnostic by themselves; they only indicate a higher or lower likelihood of unhealthy alcohol use or alcohol use disorder (AUD).
- A screen-positive result does not confirm AUD; further evaluation by a healthcare professional is required.
- A screen-negative result does not guarantee no future risk or unhealthy alcohol use.
- Some questionnaires (e.g., CAGE) are no longer recommended due to lower accuracy.
- Results may be affected by reluctance to report alcohol use honestly.
What to do next
Depending on the severity of your disorder, your provider may recommend one or more of the following treatments. Talk with your provider to find a group and approach that's right for you.
- How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
- How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?
- How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?
- Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
- Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
Evidence source
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Alcohol Use Screening Tests