Am I an Alcoholic?

Take this quiz to find out.

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell when your drinking habits tip over from casual and harmless into alcoholism. Alcoholism (also called alcohol use disorder) is a common medical condition that involves an inability to stop drinking, even if your alcohol use disrupts your life.

Only a healthcare professional can diagnose alcohol use disorder, but this quiz can help you get a better understanding of your drinking habits, so you can figure out any next steps that might be necessary.

Disclaimer: This quiz is not meant to be a diagnostic tool and shouldn’t be used as one. Always see a licensed healthcare provider to address your concerns.

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Questions Overview

1. About how often do you drink alcohol?
  1. Once per month or less.
  2. 2-4 times per month.
  3. Once per week.
  4. 2-3 times per week.
  5. Every day.
2. When you’re drinking, how many drinks do you usually have in one sitting?
  1. 1-2
  2. 3-4
  3. 5-6
  4. 7 or more
3. How often do you have 6 or more drinks on one occasion?
  1. Never.
  2. Once in a while, but it’s very rare.
  3. Monthly.
  4. Weekly.
  5. Daily.
4. Do you ever feel like you’re not able to stop drinking once you’ve started?
  1. No. I can usually stop pretty easily.
  2. Kind of. Sometimes I have 1-2 more drinks than I meant to.
  3. Yes. I often find that I can’t stop, even when I want to.
5. Does your drinking ever prevent you from doing things you were supposed to do?
  1. No, I’m always able to get things done.
  2. Kind of. Sometimes I drop the ball on things if I’m drunk or hungover.
  3. Yes, this happens to me all the time.
6. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to get yourself going for the day?
  1. Nope, I’ve never done that.
  2. I’ve done that once or twice, but not in the past year.
  3. I do that sometimes, but not super often.
  4. Yes, I do this pretty frequently.
7. When you try to take a break from alcohol, how successful are you?
  1. Very successful. When I want to take a break, I can easily do it.
  2. Kind of successful. I can take a break for a week or two.
  3. Not very successful. I can usually only last a few days.
  4. Not successful at all. I have a hard time lasting even one day.
8. Has your drinking caused problems at home or in your relationships?
  1. No
  2. Yes
9. Have you missed days of school or work because of drinking?
  1. No
  2. Yes
10. When you drink, do you ever “blackout” (become so drunk that you don’t remember what occurred)?
  1. No
  2. Yes
11. Have you ever put yourself in a dangerous situation because of drinking?
  1. No
  2. Yes
12. How often do you feel guilty or remorseful after drinking?
  1. Not often. Maybe once or twice in my life.
  2. Kinda often. Maybe a few times per year.
  3. Pretty often. Maybe a few times per month.
  4. All the time. Maybe a few times per week.
13. Do you feel like your life would be better if you didn’t drink?
  1. No
  2. Yes
14. Have friends, loved ones, or a doctor expressed concern to you about your drinking?
  1. No
  2. Yes

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All About Alcoholism

Alcoholism, also called alcohol use disorder, is an emotional and physical dependence on alcohol. When someone is struggling with alcoholism, they’re unable to stop or control their drinking, even when it’s having negative effects on their health, causing problems in their relationships, interfering with their daily life, or putting their safety at risk. This condition can range from mild to severe.[1]

Signs & Symptoms of Alcoholism

  • Craving beverages that contain alcohol regularly.
  • Drinking more than you intended to, or being unable to limit the amount you drink.
  • Making unsuccessful attempts to stop or cut down on drinking, even though you want to.
  • Continuing to drink even though it’s affecting your relationships negatively.
  • Continuing to drink even though it’s affecting your health negatively.
  • Spending lots of time drinking and/or recovering from heavy drinking.
  • Frequently failing to meet important work, school, or family obligations due to alcohol use.
  • Missing important work, school, or social events due to alcohol use.
  • Using alcohol in situations where it isn’t safe (such as driving).
  • Developing a higher tolerance for alcohol, so you need to drink more to feel its effect.
  • Experience withdrawal symptoms (nausea, sweating, shaking, etc) when you don’t drink, or drinking to avoid these symptoms.[2]

Diagnosis
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be diagnosed by a healthcare professional. To determine whether you have AUD, your provider will typically ask you questions about your alcohol consumption, perform a physical exam, and suggest any lab or imaging tests that might be necessary.[3]

Treatment
Treatment for alcohol use disorder usually involves both medications and behavioral therapies, and a combination of both typically gives the best results. Some people who struggle with AUD also find it helpful to attend support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).[4]

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References

  1. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3909-alcoholism
  2. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20369243
  3. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369250
  4. ↑ ttps://medlineplus.gov/alcoholusedisorderaudtreatment.html