Information on taking a basic drugs and alcohol medical history from a patient.

Drugs and Alcohol History

How to Start a DNA (drugs and alcohol history)

Hi I am ____ and I am here to take a drugs and alcohol history if that's ok with you.  Everything will remain confidential.  May I ask your age? 

Smoking History

Its easier to start with a smoking history than anything else!

• Do you smoke? 
• How many cigarettes per day? 
• For how long did you smoke?

Alcohol History

Do you drink Alcohol? This is the first relevant question to ask for an alcohol history. If this question is answered with a yes, then you can go on to more specific alcohol questions including:

• What is your favourite drink? 
• How much do you drink on a typical week? 
• How many glasses per day? 
• Any alcohol free days? 
• Do you often smoke or drink together? 
• Do you mainly drink on weekends? 
• Have you been noticing you are drinking more lately or less? 
• Has __ affected your work?  Relationships?  School? 
• How many days have you been absent? 
• When did you first start drinking ?

How you support your _______ habit?

If excess (more than 2 for females, and more than 4 for males)

use: CAGE

• C Have you tried to cut down? 
• A Have you ever been annoyed if asked to cut down your drinking? 
• G Have you felt guilty at all when drinking? 
• E Eye Opener : Have you had a drink the morning after

Illicit Drug History 

Relevant questions to ask about drugs:

• Have you taken any party drugs?  
• Ecstacy? 
• Ice?
• What about: " Coccaine " marijuana " heroin? 
• Any Sleeping Tablets?  Benzos? 
• Do you inject any drugs? 
• Ask about Multi-drug use.

Ask about attempts to get help:

Did you have any previous detox attempts?  Why did they fail?

Systems Review for Drugs and Alcohol History

Had you had any pancreatitis? 

Tummy pain? 

Any bleeding in the stool or urine? 

Any known liver disease?

Social History

What job / work do you do?

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