Screening for Alcohol Risk in Predominantly Hispanic Youths: Positive Rates and Behavioral Consequences

Abstract

The present study examined relationships between CAGE alcohol risk scores and predisposing factors for alcohol use, current alcohol use, and behavioral consequences in a large sample of secondary students. Students completed the CAGE, measures of demographics, potential predisposing factors, and consequences of alcohol use. More than 18% of students screened positive for potential alcohol risk using traditional CAGE criteria, and another 23% scored moderate risk using a more liberal criterion. CAGE scores were related to a variety of predisposing factors and were strongly related to current drinking and alcohol-related behavioral consequences. It was recommended that investigators examine multiple options for appropriate alcohol screening instruments.

KEYWORDS:

• alcohol
• CAGE
• Hispanic
• youth

Acknowledgments

The project was supported by two grants from the Center for Border Health Research (Paso del Norte Health Foundation of El Paso, Texas) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (TI 11715).

Notes

Notes. N ranges from 1,069 to 1,351 due to missing data for the above analyses, unless specified.

^a0 = no, 1 = yes.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Notes. N ranges from 1,042 to 1,323 due to missing data for the above analyses, unless specified.

^a0 = no, 1 = yes.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Notes. ^a0 = no, 1 = yes. ^b,c,d Values not sharing a common superscript differ at p <.05.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.