Self-Assessment: Are you a Substance Abuser?

1. Have you ever felt you should control or cut down on your alcohol or drug use?

2. Do you ever use alcohol or drugs when you are alone?

3. Have you ever used more of a drug or alcohol than you intended in a given period of time?

4. Have you used alcohol or drugs for a longer period of time than you originally intended?

5. Have you ever used more than one drug at a time?

6. Concerning your use of drugs, has anyone ever told you that you use too much?

7. Have you ever taken one drug to overcome the effects of another?

8. Have you ever thought that your life might be better if you did not drink alcohol or take drugs?

9. Have you ever felt angry at yourself or guilty because of your alcohol or drug use?

10. Do you regularly use alcohol or a drug at a certain time of the day or on certain occasions, for example, when you go to bed, when you wake up, before or after a meal, or before or after sex?

11. Have you ever lied about your alcohol or drug use to family members or friends?

12. Have you ever lied to a doctor or faked symptoms to obtain pharmaceutical drugs?

13. Have you ever stolen alcohol or drugs?

14. Have you ever stolen money or material goods that you could sell to obtain alcohol or drugs?

15. Have you ever done things to get alcohol or drugs that you later regretted?

16. Has your alcohol or drug use ever caused problems for you with school or with work?

17. Have you noticed that you need to use more and more of a drug to get you high?

18. Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when you go without alcohol or drugs for even a few days?

19. Do you panic when your supply of alcohol or your stash of drugs gets low?

20. Have you ever done something when you were drunk or high that you felt guilty about later?

21. Have you ever gotten into fights when drunk or high on drugs?

22. Have you ever been arrested for any drug related activity (including possession)?

23. Have you ever been diagnosed with a medical problem related to your alcohol or drug use?

24. Have you ever overdosed on a drug?

25. Have you ever attended a treatment program specifically related to your alcohol or drug use?

26. Have you associated with people whom you normally would not just so you could have access to alcohol or drugs?

27. Have you stopped associating with any of your friends because they do not use drugs as much as you?

SCORING:

If you answered Yes to any two of these questions, this is a sign that you have a problem with alcohol or drugs.

If you answered Yes to any three, the chances are that you do have a problem with alcohol or drugs.

If you answered Yes to four or more, you definitely have a problem with alcohol or drugs.