Step I. ASK about alcohol use:

Ask all patients:
Do you drink alcohol, including beer, wine, or distilled spirits?

Ask current drinkers about alcohol consumption:
On average, how many days per week do you drink alcohol?
On a typical day when you drink, how many drinks do you have?
What is the maximum number of drinks you had on any given occasion during the last month?

Ask current drinkers the CAGE questions:
Have you ever felt that you should Cut down on your drinking?
Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?
Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover (Eye opener)?

 

If there is a positive response to any of these questions:

ASK: Has this occurred during the past year?

A patient may be at risk for alcohol-related problems IF:

alcohol consumption is:

Men:
> 14 drinks per week or
> 4 drinks per occasion

Women:
> 7 drinks per week or
> 3 drinks per occasion

OR

one or more positive responses to the CAGE that have occurred in the past year

When is screening for alcohol problems appropriate?
as part of a routine oral health examination
before prescribing a medication that interacts with alcohol
in response to presenting problems that may be alcohol-related

Remember to conduct your screening in private and do not show signs of disapproval or judgment. In some cases, the patient's family members may alert you to the alcoholic condition of your patient. It is important to note that your patient needs to admit that alcoholism is a very serious disease and that they are willing to be helped to conquer this disease.

 

 

The ideal screening device to determine whether a problem with alcohol exists in a patient is the self-report interview or questionnaire. True False

 

Advise men who currently drink alcoholic beverages to drink no more than ___ drinks per day. a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4 e. 5

 

Advise women who currently drink alcoholic beverages to drink no more than ___ drinks per day. a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4 e. 5

 

Advise people over the age of 65 who currently drink alcoholic beverages to drink no more than ___ drinks per day. a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4 e. 5

 

 

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