How to Determine If You Have a Drinking Problem

An Alcohol Use Self-Evaluation

 

It can be extremely difficult to do a self-examination and confront an unhealthy reliance on alcohol. Often people do not seek treatment until their alcohol use begins to affect their loved ones; even then, millions of people never get the help they need. Talking about an alcohol use disorder can be painful. It is highly recommended that you seek professional help to address an addiction to alcohol or drugs.

In screening for alcohol use disorder, a person needs to assess their alcohol use over the past year. Asking the following questions can help determine whether a person has a diagnosable disorder and engages in excessive alcohol use.

Using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), you will need to answer:

 

  • How often you drink alcohol;

  • How many alcoholic beverages you drink in a typical day;

  • How often you have six or more drinks on one occasion;

  • How often are you unable to stop drinking once you start;

  • How often you have failed to do what is normally expected because of drinking;

  • How often you need a drink in the morning after a heavy night of drinking;

  • How often experience guilt or remorse after drinking;

  • How often you are unable to remember what happened the night before because of drinking;

  • If you have ever injured yourself or someone else as a result of drinking; and

  • Whether a friend, family member, or health care worker has ever expressed concerns about your drinking.

Yes to any of these questions may be an indication that you need to seek treatment for excessive alcohol use. Again, it is strongly recommended that you obtain professional help to address dependence on alcohol. There are options for treatment that can be personalized to your specific needs.