Alcohol Abuse History

• Alcohol intake Hx:
  • What type of alcohol?
  • When did you first start? How old were you? When did you notice your alcohol intake starting to increase? When was the last time you consumed alcohol?
  • How much\many?
  • How frequent? Social? Episodes of binging? Specific time of the day?
  • Do you use any medications\drugs in combination w\ alcohol? Smoking?
  • Have you ever tried to stop drinking? If not, do you want\feel ready to stop?

• RAFFT:
  • Do you drink alcohol to Relax, feel better about yourself?
  • Do you drink alcohol while you’re Alone?
  • Do you Forget things you did while intoxicated?
  • Do your Family\Friends tell you that you should cut down?
  • Have you ever gotten in Trouble while intoxicated?

• CAGE:
  • Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?
  • Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
  • Have you ever felt Guilty about your drinking?
  • Have you ever felt you need a drink first thing in the morning (Eye-opener)?

• Medical Hx:
  • Dependence Sx: if you stop drinking do you feel N\V, shakes, headaches, seizures
  • Co-morbidities: DM, HTN, DLP, heart ds
  • Poisoning: problems in the eyes, kidneys, liver ds (jaundice)
  • Do you take any medications? OTC drugs? Recreational drugs?
  • Ever been hospitalized for drinking-related injuries\illnesses?
  • Allergies
  • Family Hx of problems w\ drinking, mental illness?

• Psych Hx:
  • Screen for: depression, bipolar, anxiety, psychosis (full symptoms, check suicide assessment file)
  • Harm towards self or others, suicide risk

• Social Hx:
  • How is your relationship w\ your family and friends?
  • Marital status? Children?
  • Occupation? Satisfied\secured?
  • Stressors? (Emotional, financial)
  • Have you ever been exposed to social trauma? (Loss of a loved one, violence, abuse)

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