THE USE OF THE CAGE QUESTIONNAIRE IN A COHORT OF HOMOSEXUALLY ACTIVE MEN

The prevalence and correlates of alcohol-related problems measured by the CAGE questionnaire were investigated in a population of 249 homose xually active men at a Boston community health center. Two hundred eig ht men (79.4%) reported alcohol use during the past 6 months and 22.9% (27.4% of alcohol users) were CAGE positive (two or more positive res ponses). Increased frequency of alcohol use was strongly associated wi th CAGE positivity (p <.001). Controlling for frequency of alcohol use , cigarette smoking was independently associated with a positive CAGE score. Other substance use and demographic variables were not independ ently associated with CAGE problems.