Take The Alcohol Abuse Self-Assessment and Quiz
Drinking is a socially acceptable recreational activity, which can sometimes make it hard to tell if it starts to become a problem. Alcohol use disorder exists on a spectrum, and it can sometimes lead you to lose sight of your priorities, relationships, and goals. It can also lead to negative physical, emotional, and psychological consequences.
There are many factors that determine whether someone has developed an issue with alcohol. It can be helpful to look at your relationship with drinking to assess the role it is playing in your life. Regardless of whether someone has a mild, moderate or severe alcohol use disorder, the ability to change, seek treatment, and recover is possible.
- Do you often drink more or for longer periods of time than you intended to?
- Have you tried to cut down on drinking but found you have been unable to?
- Do you find you spend a lot of time drinking? Or spend a lot of time being sick or getting over other aftereffects?
- Do you spend time obsessing or thinking about drinking?
- Do you continue drinking even though it causes issues with your family or friends?
- Has drinking interfered with taking care of responsibilities and obligations in your life?
- Have you gotten into situations where drinking has increased your chances of getting physically injured (including driving, operating machinery, or getting into dangerous situations or sexual encounters?)
- Have you cut back on hobbies or activities that may have been important to you in order to prioritize your drinking?
- Do you continue to drink even after it makes you feel depressed, anxious, or contributes to another mental health problem?
- Over the past 12 months have you developed a higher tolerance to alcohol? In other words, do you require more alcohol to get the same buzz you used to from drinking less?
- Have you experienced symptoms of withdrawal when you’re not drinking? These can include sweating, shaking, insomnia, increased heart rate.