special subjects
Alcohol Use
Screening for Alcohol Use Disorder
Some people may not know that their amount of drinking could be a problem. Others know but do not want to admit that they have an alcohol problem. Therefore, health care practitioners do not wait for people to ask for help. They may suspect alcohol use disorder in people whose behavior changes inexplicably or whose behavior becomes self-destructive. They may also suspect alcohol use disorder when medical problems, such as High Blood Pressure or stomach inflammation ( Many practitioners periodically screen people for alcohol-related problems by asking about their use of alcohol. Questions may include the following: On average, how many days per week do you drink alcohol? On a typical day when you drink, how many drinks do you have? What is the maximum number of drinks you had on any given occasion in the past month? If doctors suspect alcohol use disorder, they may ask more specific questions about consequences of drinking, such as the following: Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking? Does criticism of your drinking annoy you? Have you ever felt guilty about drinking? Have you ever had an “eye opener” (a drink first thing in the morning) to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover? Two or more “yes” answers to these questions indicate a probable alcohol use disorder. 