Definition of the CAGE Inventory for Substance Abuse

The CAGE inventory is a four-part series of questions used to assess an individual's level of addiction to alcohol. The term CAGE is used as an acronym, with each letter signifying a question about alcohol use and potential abuse.

Cut Down

• The initial question asks whether the individual has thought that she should cut back on her intake of alcohol. This is a self-assessment that targets the individual's feelings about her alcohol usage.

Annoyed

• The second question covers the question of whether others, such as friends and family members, have recommended that the person cut back on his drinking, leading to the person feeling annoyed at these suggestions. It is useful for gauging the impact of the family and community on the behavior and a defensive response.

Guilt

• The third aspect of the assessment covers feelings of guilt and shame around the behavior. The question, when answered honestly, is crucial for gauging negative emotions related to alcohol use.

Eye Opening

• Morning drinking is considered a sign of possibly abuse, and the final question targets this issue by asking whether the individual has used alcohol early in the day in order to relax or due to being hung-over from a previous night of excessive drinking.

Accuracy

• The CAGE test has been shown to have a high level of accuracy in detecting alcohol abuse. In a study at the Institute of Psychiatry in London and published in the Lancet journal in 1982, the CAGE test was found to detect 93 percent of excessive drinkers.