The CAGE questionnaire helps identify potential alcohol dependency through four introspective yes-or-no questions regarding the individual's drinking habits and their effects:

1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking?
4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (eye-opener)?

Each "Yes" response scores 1 point, and each "No" scores 0. The responses are scored as follows:

| Question                                                                                              | Response | Score |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|-------|
| Felt you should cut down on your drinking?                                                            | Yes      | 1     |
| Annoyed by people's criticism of your drinking?                                                       | Yes      | 1     |
| Felt guilty about your drinking?                                                                      | Yes      | 1     |
| Had a drink in the morning to steady nerves or cure a hangover?                                       | Yes      | 1     |
| Any "No" response                                                                                     | No       | 0     |

The total score, ranging from 0 to 4, determines the interpretation:

- A score of 0 or 1 suggests alcoholism is unlikely. This indicates few concerns or external feedback impacting their perception of drinking habits. 
- A score of 2 or more suggests alcoholism is likely, highlighting areas of concern where the individual acknowledges potential issues through affirmations of criticism, guilt, or habitual drinking behaviors.

This simple yet effective approach allows for a swift evaluation of alcohol use concerns for both individuals and health professionals.

The CAGE questionnaire is a brief, self-report screening tool used to identify potential problems with alcohol. The acronym CAGE stands for the four questions in the questionnaire: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener. 

This calculator is applicable to the general adult population, particularly those suspected of having alcohol use disorders. It is often used in primary care settings, emergency departments, and other healthcare settings where alcohol use may be a concern. 

The clinical utility of the CAGE questionnaire is to screen for excessive or problematic alcohol use. It is not a diagnostic tool, but rather a preliminary method to identify individuals who may need further assessment or intervention for alcohol-related problems. 

There are no specific exclusion criteria for the use of the CAGE questionnaire. However, it should be noted that this tool may not be as effective in identifying less severe alcohol problems or alcohol abuse in certain populations, such as women and younger adults. It is also not designed to identify drug use disorders.

CAGE questionnaire for alcohol use