Who Is This Alcohol Use Disorder Quiz For?
Below is a list of questions that relate to life experiences common among people who have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (alcohol addiction). Please read each question carefully, and indicate how often you have experienced the same or similar challenges in the past 12 months.
If any of these symptoms dissipated three months ago or more, the disorder may be in early remission. If any dissipated more than a year ago, the disorder may be in sustained remission.
Alcohol dependency, according to AUD diagnostic criteria, has little to do with the amount of alcohol consumed. Alcohol dependency is the need to drink (in any amount) to avoid withdrawal symptoms or in order to carry out daily functions.
In some people, excessive drinking and binge drinking can lead to dependency.
Is This Alcohol Use Disorder Quiz Accurate?
This quiz is NOT a diagnostic tool. Mental health disorders can only be diagnosed by a licensed mental health provider or doctor. Assessments can be a valuable first step toward getting treatment. All too often people stop short of seeking help out of fear their concerns aren’t legitimate or severe enough to warrant professional intervention.
It can also be a way to start a discussion about problem drinking with friends or family members whose behavior around alcohol concerns you.
Alcohol Use Disorder Resources
If you or a loved one need help with their drinking, there are several places to turn:
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a free, confidential, 24/7 helpline to access treatment information, in English and Spanish. Get referrals for treatment facilities, support groups and community organizations. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357). TTY: 1-800-487-4889
Or, find a treatment facility near you at FindTreatment.gov.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s guide offers signs of a problem, types of treatment and health care providers that can help, and listings of support groups and informational resources.
Find an Alcoholics Anonymous chapter near you at www.aa.org.
Find Al-Anon Family Groups at www.al-anon.alateen.org.
Search for social workers who specialize in addiction treatment at www.helpstartshere.org, website of the National Association of Social Workers.
Those dealing with past alcohol-related trauma may find help through Adult Children of Alcoholics, www.adultchildren.org.
Alcohol Use Disorder Quiz
Your privacy is important to us. All results are completely anonymous.
Alcohol Use Disorder FAQs
The clinical term for alcoholism is alcohol use disorder (AUD), and it’s considered a brain disorder caused by alcohol overuse. AUD is characterized by loss of control over alcohol, consuming it even when doing so damages your health, work, school, or relationships.
Alcoholism is less about how much or how often someone drinks and more about the physical compulsion to do so, turning it into an obsession or a “need.”
Alcohol abuse is characterized by the harmful consequences of a person’s drinking. These can include physical maladies such as temporary blackouts or short-term memory loss, emotional changes such as extreme mood swings, dependency on alcohol to relax or “feel normal,” and choosing to drink over choosing to work and family obligations.
You may have heard the term "functional alcoholic" to describe someone who appears to drink heavily but still holds down a job, meets family obligations, and excels in other areas of life. This isn't a diagnosis, and it isn't a badge of honor—rather, hiding or justifying heavy alcohol use may be a sign of or lead to problems.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no specific medical test to diagnose alcohol use disorder (AUD). Blood tests can be performed to show alcohol consumption as well as damage to certain organs that might be indicative of alcohol overuse.
AUD is determined using criteria found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) of the American Psychiatric Association. A problematic pattern of alcohol use, causing significant impairment or distress, must be established over a 12-month period.
According to the National Institutes of Health, AUD is a spectrum, so it can be mild, moderate or severe.
Another assessment tool is known as CAGE. If you answer “yes” to at least two of these questions, you may have a problem:
- Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
- Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
- Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
- Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get over a hangover?
If you don't fit the criteria for AUD, yet still feel your drinking may be a problem, look for resources regarding "gray area drinking."
A drug and alcohol screening can be a blood, urine, hair, saliva or breath test to detect the presence of substances including alcohol, amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, and opioids/narcotics in a person, indicating recent use. Such screens are typically performed by private employers on current or potential employees.
Screenings may not be full and complete tests, though sometimes “drug screening” and “drug test” are used interchangeably. "Screening" may also refer to a questionnaire to help determine whether your behaviors and thoughts are similar to those of people addicted to alcohol, drugs or other risky practices.
Some tips from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) include:
- Write out a list of reasons to cut back, such as feeling healthier, sleeping better, or saving money.
- Set a limit of how much you will drink, and stick to it.
- Keep a diary of your drinking.
- Don’t keep alcohol in the house.
- Drink slowly, or have a nonalcoholic drink between every alcoholic one.
- Ask for support from friends and family.
You can also focus on the health benefits of cutting back on drinking, which can include:
- Lower blood sugar and blood pressure
- Fewer alcohol-induced headaches and stomachaches (and fewer hangovers!)
- Improved mental health
- Better sleep
- Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and cancer
Reach out to a mental health professional, addiction specialist, or health care provider if you feel you can’t stop drinking or that it is causing problems in your life. Talk therapy may also be helpful.
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