Alcohol Use

CAGE Criteria

C = Have you flet you ought to C ut down on your drinking?
A = Have people A nnoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
G = Have you ever felt bad or G uilty about your drinking?
E = Have you ever had a drink the first thing in the morning ( E ye opener) to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

Interpretation:
One ' yes ' answer indicates hazardous drinking. Two or more ' yes ' answers indicates abuse or dependence.

Criteria for At-Risk Drinking

Men > 14 drinks per week or >4 drinks per occasion
Female >7 drinks per week or >3 drinks per occasion

Criteria for Alcohol Abuse

Patterns of alcohol use in which 1 (or more) of the following 4 critieria are present within a year period

Recurent alcohol use reesulting in

• Failure to fulfill major role obligations
• Placing self and others in potentially hazardous situations
• Legal problems

Continue alcohol use with persistent or recurrent social/interpersonal problems due to effects of alcohol

Criteria for Alcohol Dependence

Pattern of alcohol use in which 3 (or more) of the following 7 criteria are present within a 12 hour period:

• Physical tolerance (increased amounts are required for desired effect)
• Withdrawal symtpoms whine substance is discontinued
• Larger amounts of alcohol are used than intended
• Unsuccessful efforts to control use
• Much time and energy are spent in obtaining, using, and recovering from effects of alcohol
• Many social work-related, and recreational activities are reduced because of alcohol use
• Continued use in spine of knowledge that alcohol causes physical and /or psychological problem

FRAMES for Brief Interventions

F eedback = tell patient about findings and their meaning
R esponsibility = success for treatment is dependent on the patient
A dvise = direct patient to quit or cut down
M enu = offer patient options to empower them in quitting
E mpathic = show patient that your interest is sincere
S elf-efficacy = physician assisted empowerment