4-question CAGE assessment can detect alcohol problem: Dr

Here’s another reason to try Sober October – a UK psychiatrist is warning of a “middle-aged drinking epidemic” that could increase the risk of cancer and even early death.

“I see many men and women in this category in my clinic,” wrote Dr. Max Pemberton in the Daily Mail on Sunday.

“When I ask them about their drinking, they often fail to see that they have a problem because things haven’t (yet) reached the stage where they’re physically dependent on it – when the body relies on alcohol and the swings start if they go without it, he added.

Pemberton recommends taking the four-question CAGE assessment, a screening tool that can identify a substance abuse problem. CAGE – developed in 1968 by Dr. John Ewing, a professor of psychiatry and addiction treatment physician at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — means Cut down, upset, guilty, and eye-opener.

• Cut Down: Have you ever thought you should cut back on your drinking?
• Annoyed: Are you annoyed by people criticizing your drinking?
• Guilt: Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
• Eye Opener: Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to calm your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

“Answering ‘yes’ to two or more of these questions means there may be a problem that can’t simply be explained away as summer fun or remedied with sober October,” Pemberton wrote.

“Sober October” is similar to “Dry January” – they are month-long challenges that encourage people to abstain from alcohol, which can improve their sleep and mental health, lead to weight loss, lower blood pressure and help save money.

A quarter of Americans legally able to drink reported participating in this year’s Dry January, while Sober October is gaining traction around the world, especially among millennials.

Pemberton says that engaging in this type of work can reveal a problem that needs treatment.

“Reducing your alcohol consumption is always a sensible thing to do, but if the first thing you do in early February or early November is grab a cork then it’s a good indicator that a month without booze isn’t going to fix things — and it may even be time to seek professional help,” Pemberton explained.

About 29 million Americans – including about one in five middle-aged adults – are unable to stop or control their drinking despite severe consequences.

New research suggests that no amount of alcohol is good for your health – it can increase your risk of developing various cancers, liver disease, pancreatitis, brain damage, mental health problems and sleep problems, among other problems others.