Different versions of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) as screening instruments for underage binge drinking

Background: The changes experienced in recent years in the conceptualization of binge drinking (BD) make it necessary to revise the usefulness of the existing instruments for its detection among minors. The AUDIT and its abbreviated versions have shown their utility in different populations and consumption ranges, but there has been little research into their use in the detection of BD among adolescents. This study tests the capacity of the AUDIT, AUDIT-C and AUDIT-3 to identify BD adolescents, indicating the optimal cut-off points for each sex.

Methods: High school students self-administered the AUDIT and completed a weekly self-report of their alcohol intake. BD is classified into different groups according to parameters like the quantity consumed and its frequency in the past six months, adjusting the cut-off points for each case.

Results: The results obtained with a sample of 634 adolescents (15-17 years old/52.2% female) indicate that cut-off points of 4 on the AUDIT and 3 on the AUDIT-C show the best fit. Dividing the sample by sexes, the AUDIT and the AUDIT-C would detect BD males with scores of 5 and 4, respectively (with the AUDIT-C being more sensitive), and BD females with a score of 3 on both (the more sensitive being the AUDIT).

Conclusions: All three versions are adequate to classify BD adolescents but none of them made it possible to safely differentiate binge drinkers with different consumption intensities.