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Public domainSubstance use Available now

CAGE

CAGE Questionnaire

The CAGE Questionnaire (CAGE) is a 4-item substance use assessment for adults. It typically takes about 1 minute to complete, producing a total score from 0 to 4 where higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.

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Items

4

Time to complete

1 min

Population

adult

Score range

0–4

About the CAGE

The CAGE Questionnaire (CAGE) is a 4-item substance use assessment for adults. It typically takes about 1 minute to complete, producing a total score from 0 to 4 where higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.

First published in 1984 by Ewing JA, the CAGE is in the public domain and free to use without permission or fees. With Psyche Assess you can send the CAGE to clients online, score it automatically, and generate a clinician-ready report in seconds.

CAGE questions

Response scale
0 = No1 = Yes
  1. 1

    Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?

  2. 2

    Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking?

  3. 3

    Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?

  4. 4

    Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (“eye-opener”)?

Items reproduced from a documented, freely usable source. Item wording is preserved exactly as published.

Scoring & interpretation

RangeBandInterpretation
0–1Negative screenBelow the screening cutoff.
2–4Positive screenScore ≥2 — clinically significant; administer AUDIT and review with the client.

Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.

Frequently asked questions

How many items does the CAGE have?

The CAGE has 4 items and takes about 1 minute to complete.

How is the CAGE scored?

Item responses are summed for a total score from 0 to 4, where higher scores indicate greater severity. Totals fall into the interpretive bands shown above.

Is the CAGE free to use?

Yes — the CAGE is in the public domain and free to use, reproduce, and translate.

Who is the CAGE for?

The CAGE is designed for adult and is used by clinicians, researchers, and integrated-care teams.

Source & references

AuthorsEwing JA
First published1984
CitationEwing JA. Detecting alcoholism. The CAGE questionnaire. JAMA. 1984;252(14):1905-1907.
PubMed6471323
LicensePublic domain
Source obtained from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6471323 on 2026-05-16. Every instrument in our catalog has a documented, legitimate source — never scraped from another platform.

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