Please note this test is not a substitute for a diagnosis by a professional, but is a good beginning to simply help you see that your loved one may have a problem. The best course of action is always to confer with a doctor if you think your loved one has an issue with drugs or alcohol.
The questions below refer to the past year.
Carefully read each question and decide whether your answer regarding your loved one is yes or no.
1. Does your loved one decide to cut back or stop their drug use or drinking and are unable to do so?
2. Have other people criticized your loved one because of their drug use or drinking?
3. Does your loved one ever feel guilt or remorse about their drug use or drinking?
4. Has your loved one ever had a drink or used drugs upon waking to feel better from the previous night?
5. Does your loved one have problems at school, work or with the law as a result of drinking or drug use?
6. Has your loved one’s drug use or drinking ever caused difficulties with their family, children, parents, spouse or friends?
7. Has your loved one ever avoided attending important family commitments, missed work or skipped school because they were high, hung-over or drunk?
8. Has your loved one had “blackouts” or “flashbacks” as a result of their drinking or drug use?
9. Has your loved one ever been injured, or their property damaged or destroyed as a result of their drinking or drug use?
10. Has your loved one ever lost a job or a business because of drinking or drug use?
11. Does your loved one drink or use to escape their problems?
12. Does your loved one drink or use when they are alone?
13. Has your loved one ever been in a hospital because of drinking or drug use?
14. Has drinking or using ever made it hard for your loved one to sleep?
15. Has your loved one had medical problems because of their drinking or drug use?
16. Has a doctor ever treated your loved one for their drinking or drug use?
If you answered YES to two or more of the questions above, your loved one may have a drug or alcohol problem and should seek professional help.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse provides several other assessments here: