Alcohol Use Screening Tests | Clinique La Rive

What are the tests for alcohol use?

Alcohol screening tests are questionnaires that you answer about your alcohol consumption. Your answers are used to check for unhealthy alcohol consumption. Unhealthy alcohol consumption, also called alcohol abuse, can cause health problems and can lead to alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUT is a brain disorder in which you cannot stop or control your alcohol consumption, even if it causes distress and damage. This can cause problems in your work, relationships, and health. AUT can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on your symptoms. Severe AUT was formerly referred to as alcohol dependence and alcoholism.

Unhealthy drinking can also include binge drinking, which is drinking so much at once that your blood alcohol level (SAD) is 0.08% or higher. For a man, this usually happens after consuming five or more drinks in a few hours. For a woman, this happens after about four drinks or more in a few hours. Not everyone who binge drinks has an AUT, but they are at a higher risk of developing one.

In addition to checking for unhealthy alcohol consumption, alcohol tests can tell you if you are at risk for UAT. This risk may depend on how much, how often, and how quickly you drink alcohol. Knowing that you are at risk can help you reduce your alcohol consumption.

If the alcohol test reveals that you have a UAT, you and your health care provider can create an effective treatment plan for you.

Other names: Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (TUA), AUDIT-C, Cut down tools Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (CAGE), Tolerance, Annoyed Cut down, Eye-opener (T-ACE), Eye-opener (T-ACE), Screening Tool with Brief Intervention (SBI)

What are they for?

Alcohol use tests are questionnaires used to check for unhealthy alcohol use and your risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Some tests can also help show if your condition is mild, moderate, or severe.

Why do I need an alcohol screening test?

Your provider may do a screening test as part of a routine health care visit. You may also get tested if a provider thinks you may have a problem with alcohol. Screening may include questions to help identify if you have symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD). This may include:

Drink longer or longer than planned.
Trying to cut back or stop but being unable to do so.
Hide bottles and glasses of alcohol so others can't see evidence of your consumption.
Have strong alcohol cravings.
Continue to drink even if it causes problems in your personal relationships, at work, at school, and/or for your health.
Develop a tolerance to alcohol. This means that you need more and more alcohol to feel its effects.
Use alcohol when it is not safe, such as while driving.
Having withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, headaches, weakness, sweating, or nausea when trying to stop drinking.

Some people with a UAT don't know or don't want to admit that they have a problem. If family, friends, or colleagues express concerns about your alcohol consumption, talk to your provider about getting tested. Your provider may also recommend screening if they notice signs and symptoms of an UAT.

What happens during an alcohol screening test?

Your primary care provider or mental health provider can screen for alcohol use. A mental health provider is a health professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. Some mental health providers specialize in treating alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and other substance use disorders.

There are various types of alcohol use screening tests. But each one includes questions about your drinking habits and how they may affect your life. The most commonly used alcohol tests are:

Test for the identification of alcohol disorders (AUDIT). This test contains 10 multiple choice questions about how much and how often you drink alcohol and whether you have alcohol-related problems or reactions. Responses are scored on a point system. A score of 8 or higher may indicate AUD.
AUDIT-C is an abbreviated version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). It contains three multiple choice questions. Each answer is rated from 0 to 4 points. The higher the score, the more likely it is that you have AUD.
Cut down Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (CAGE). This test is still often used, but it is no longer recommended because there are better tests available. It contains the following yes or no questions:
- Have you ever felt like you should reduce your alcohol consumption?
- Do people have you annoyed by criticizing your alcohol consumption?
- Have you ever felt ashamed or Of guilt about your alcohol consumption?
- Eye opener: Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to calm yourself down?
Two or more “yes” answers can be an AUD sign.
The NIAAA Single Alcohol Screening Question (SASQ). This test is not graded and may be part of a routine health visit. Your provider may first ask how often you consumed an alcoholic drink in the past year, but the SASQ test only contains one question.
- How many times in the past year did you have (4 for women, or 5 for men) or more drinks in a day?
If your answer is one or more, then your provider may want to ask additional questions to help determine if you have, or are at risk, of AUD. Two or more “yes” answers to these questions can be a sign of AUD.
Screening with brief intervention tools (SBI). These tests contain a series of yes/no questions to help identify, reduce, and prevent alcohol abuse. They can help identify brief interventions and the best treatment for you. Brief interventions are short-term counseling sessions and treatment strategies. These are meant to help you change your drinking behaviors and habits. If your test shows that you have or are at risk for AUD, a long-term treatment plan may be recommended.

Some questionnaires, including the Alcohol Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), are available online for self-screening. You can ask your provider how to access these tests.

Do I need to do anything to prepare for the exam?

You do not need special preparations for an alcohol test.

Are there any risks associated with the test?

There is no risk in completing a questionnaire.

What do the results mean?

Some results may indicate whether you have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Others may show how serious your AUD is. For these tests, your results may be in one of the following categories or categories with similar names:

Light You have two to three symptoms of AUD. This consumption model puts your health at risk and/or has harmful social effects on you or others. If you have symptoms now, you may be at risk for more serious problems in the future. Your healthcare provider can recommend steps to help you change your drinking habits.
Moderate. You have four or five symptoms of AUD. Your healthcare provider may recommend a short procedure or other treatments.
Serious. You have six or more symptoms of AUD. You may need more intensive treatment. This may include specialist consultation, medication, support groups, and/or addiction recovery programs.

Is there anything else I need to know about being tested for alcohol use?

Some people with alcohol use disorders may change their behavior to reduce their alcohol consumption. Others will have to stop completely. It's called abstinence. Depending on the severity of your condition, your healthcare professional may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

Short or long-term advice from a mental health professional who specializes in the treatment of alcohol disorders. This can help you learn ways to change your drinking behavior and not start drinking again.
Support groups. There are many different approaches and formats for alcohol use disorder support groups. Groups can help provide peer support to stop or reduce your alcohol consumption. Talk to your healthcare professional to find a group and approach that's right for you.
Medications. Some medications can reduce your alcohol cravings. These medications are meant to help you stop, reduce, stop, or not start drinking again.

References

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