Do you have a problem with alcohol? As strange as it sounds, it might be hard to tell. Alcohol is everywhere in our culture and people drink alcohol for different reasons. They drink it for the taste, to celebrate good times, to try to forget bad times, or to feel drunk or buzzed.
To determine if you have a problem with drinking, you can take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), a test created by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is one of a number of tests that can help determine different kinds of substance use disorder and help people determine if they need help.
The test:
1. How often do you drink alcohol?
(0) Never (Skip to Questions 9-10)
(1) Once a month or less
(2) 2-4 times every month
(3) 2-3 times every week
(4) 4 or more times every week
2. How many alcoholic drinks do you usually drink at one time?
(0) 1 or 2
(1) 3 or 4
(2) 5 or 6
(3) 7, 8, or 9
(4) 10 or more
3. How often do you drink six or more drinks in one evening?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
4. During the last year, how often did you find it impossible to stop drinking once you began?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
5. During the last year, how often did you fail to do things because you were drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
6. During the last year, how often did you find it difficult to remember events because you were drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
7. During the last year, how many times did you use an alcoholic drink to feel better in the morning after drinking heavily the night before?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
8. During the last year, have you ever felt remorse or guilt after drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3) Weekly
(4) Daily or almost daily
9. Has your drinking injured you or someone else?
(0) No
(2) Yes, but not in the last year
(4) Yes, during the last year
10. Have friends, relatives, or health professionals asked you about your drinking or asked you to drink less?
(0) No
(2) Yes, but not in the last year
(4) Yes, during the last year
To find your AUDIT results, add up the points associated with each answer. If your score is eight or more, you could be engaging in risky drinking behavior that could hurt you or someone else.
