A modified version of the CAGE as an indicator of alcohol abuse and its consequences among undergraduate drinkers

In March of 1999, we conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey using a random sample of 2041 undergraduate students attending a large, public university in the Midwest. The sample was recruited via e-mail and students completed the Web survey from their computer terminals. Toward the goal of establishing the usefulness of the CAGE when screening undergraduates for alcohol misuse, we first examined the proportion of undergraduates with a positive score on a modified version of the CAGE and then determined the correlates of a positive CAGE score (e.g. alcohol consumption, fear of addiction, etc.). We found preliminary evidence that the question "Have you been afraid you might be alcoholic" may be the best identifier, when compared to the modified CAGE, of at-risk students.