Validated Screening Methods for Alcohol Use Disorder Recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
- Single-question screening: “How many times in the past year have you had five (for men) or four (for women and all adults older than 65 years) or more drinks per day?”
- Abbreviated AUDIT-C (three-item questionnaire): http://www.integration.samhsa.gov/images/res/tool_auditc.pdf
- AUDIT (10-item questionnaire): http://www.talkingalcohol.com/files/pdfs/WHO_audit.pdf
The Single question Screening is recommended by the NIAAA accurately identifies unhealthy alcohol use. You first ask a pre-screening question before you ask the single screening question.
“Ask a pre-screening question, “Do you sometimes drink alcoholic beverages?”, and then the single screening question, “How many times in the past year have you had X or more drinks in a day?” (where X is 5 for men and 4 for women, and a response of ≥1 is considered positive). Subjects responding negatively to the pre-screening question should still be asked the single screening question.
Definitions:
A standard drink = 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof spirits.
For comparison, one average can of coke is 12 ounces.
AUDIT = Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; AUDIT-C = Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption.