Which scales are commonly used to assess substance use?

The CAGE questionnaire and the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test are widely recognized tools for assessing substance use. These instruments are specifically designed to screen for potential alcohol use disorders and identify patterns of harmful drinking behavior.

The CAGE questionnaire consists of four straightforward questions that help clinicians gauge a person’s relationship with alcohol and determine if dependency might be an issue. Effective in various settings, CAGE is particularly useful due to its brevity and ease of integration into a clinical interview.

The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive tool that evaluates a broader range of alcohol-related problems. It comprises several items that collectively assess the severity of alcohol use and its impact on an individual’s life.

Together, these tools are pivotal in identifying individuals who may require further assessment or intervention for alcohol-related issues, making them highly effective for screening.

Other options, while they contain relevant assessments, either focus on different aspects of mental health or substance use, or utilize diagnostic criteria rather than screening for substance use specifically. Thus, the combination of CAGE and the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test offers targeted insights into alcohol use, distinguishing it as a commonly used and effective choice in this context.