These assessments are free of charge, and for your information only. There is no information being gathered off this page for any purpose. These are indicators, they point to the fact that there may be a concern. In the final result, only you can decide if there needs to be any changes made. Before deciding consider carefully, it's your future.

The CAGE Test One of the oldest and most popular screening tools for alcohol abuse is the CAGE test, which is a short, four-question test that diagnoses alcohol problems over a lifetime. C - Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking? A- Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? G - Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking? E - Eye opener: Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover? Because denial usually accompanies alcohol abuse problems, the CAGE test, like most alcohol screening tests, asks questions about problems associated with drinking rather than the amount of alcohol consumed. Two "yes" answers to the CAGE test indicates problems with alcohol. The disadvantage of the CAGE test is that it is most accurate for white, middle-aged men and not very accurate for identifying alcohol abuse in older people, white women, and African and Mexican Americans.

The RAPS4 Questions 1. Have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking? 2. Has a friend or a family member ever told you about things you said or did while you were drinking that you could not remember? 3. Have you failed to do what was normally expected of you because of drinking? 4. Do you sometimes take a drink when you first get up in the morning? A "yes" answer to at least one of the four questions suggests that your drinking is harmful to your health and well-being and may adversely affect your work and those around you. If you answered "no" to all four questions, your drinking pattern is considered safe for most people and your results do not suggest that alcohol is harming your health.

The T-ACE Test The T-ACE test is also only four questions, including three found on the CAGE test, but it has proved to be more accurate in diagnosing alcohol problems in both men and women. T - Does it take more than three drinks to make you feel high? A - Have you ever been annoyed by people's criticism of your drinking? C - Are you trying to cut down on drinking? E - Have you ever used alcohol as an eye opener in the morning? Again, "yes" answers to two of these four questions is an indication of possible alcohol abuse or dependence.