CAGE Questions

Adapted to Include Drug Use (CAGE-AID)

1. Have you ever felt you ought to cut down on your drinking or drug use?

2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking or drug use?

3. Have you felt bad or guilty about your drinking or drug use?

4. Have you ever had a drink or used drugs first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (eye-opener)?

Scoring: Item responses on the CAGE questions are scored 0 for "no" and 1 for "yes" answers, with a higher score being an indication of alcohol and/or drug problems.

A total score of two or greater is considered clinically significant. The normal cutoff for the CAGE is two positive answers, however, the Consensus Panel recommends clinicians lower the threshold to one positive answer to cast a wider net and identify more patients who may have substance abuse disorders. A number of other specific screening tools are available. CAGE is derived from the four questions of the tool: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener CAGE Source: Ewing 1984