Title: Identification of people with drinking problems
Course: Non-Communicable Diseases, Emergency Care and Mental Health Part 2 - Ethiopia (Full)

Identification of people with drinking problems

The best way of identifying people with alcohol use problems in your community is to ask routinely about drug and alcohol use. The questions in Box 14.2 come from a screening questionnaire called CAGE. These questions will help you to identify people with alcohol use problems.

Box 14.2 Identifying someone with a drinking problem

Questions to ask the family or friends:

- Has the person been drinking recently?
- Are your worried about his or her drinking? Why?
- Has the person been drinking in the mornings?

Screening questions to ask the person (CAGE questionnaire):

- Have you ever felt you should Cut your drinking?
- Have people Annoyed you by criticising your drinking?
- Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?
- Have you ever taken a drink first thing in the morning (Eye opener) to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

Yes to two or more questions suggests the person has a harmful drinking problem.

Whilst you talk to the person, look out for signs of tension, nervousness, the smell of alcohol, bruises, scars or other signs of injuries. When these signs are present it is possible that this person is suffering from alcohol-related problems. After identifying the person with alcohol-related problem, the next step is to help them solve the problem.