Which screening instrument for alcohol and drug problems consists of four questions?

• A. CAGE
• B. AUDIT
• C. MAST
• D. SAPC

Answer: (A)

This question is about recognizing a very brief screening tool that uses four yes/no questions to flag possible alcohol problems. The instrument known for being four quick questions asks about the need to cut down, annoyance by others about drinking, guilt about drinking, and having an eye-opener (a morning drink). Because it consists of only four items and is designed for rapid screening in clinical settings, it’s the best fit when you’re asked to identify a four-question screen. A positive result—typically two or more “yes” answers—signals a potential problem and should lead to a more thorough assessment. The other tools listed require many more questions (for example, ten questions in AUDIT, and even more in MAST), so they don’t match the four-question format. If you’re studying for drugs in addition to alcohol, there is a version that adapts the same four questions to include drug use (often called CAGE-AID), but the classic four-question screener most people recognize here is CAGE.