A Quick Rule of Thumb for Diagnosing a Drug or Alcohol Problem
May 22nd, 2008 by janDo I use alcohol or other drugs? Does my drug or alcohol use result in a pattern of negative consequences in significant areas of my life (legally, relationships, medically or physically, employment or academics), and do I continue to use anyway.
May 24th, 2008 at 9:01 am
What about the “CAGE” or the “MAST” Aren’t those more definitive?
May 28th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
What does “CAGE” and “MAST” refer to? I’ve not heard these terms.
May 28th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
CAGE is an acronym for a quick alcohol problem screening test (you ever felt your should Cut down, ever been Annoyed by Qs about, ever felt Guilty about, your drinking, or had an Eye-opener). MAST is the Michigan Alcoholism Screening test, also a quick screen. Both screens have been studied and validated. My use-in-the-face-of-adverse-consequences rule of thumb is just an informal, non-validated tool to use to see if a person’s alcohol use is causing problems; if it is, then it’s a problem that needs further formal investigation.