ADDICTION TESTS

Introduction
Common Addiction Self-Assessment Tools
Sunshine Coast Health Center Addiction Self-Assessment Tools
Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

If you are starting to realize you have a problem or are worried about a loved one you may want to start off by reading the self-assessment section below.

COMMON SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SCREENING TOOLS

While many self-assessment tools have been developed over the years to determine if someone should seek drug and alcohol addiction treatment, the most commonly used are as follows:

The CAGE

The CAGE is widely used in emergency rooms because it is quick and simple to administer. CAGE is an acronym using key words from each question as follows:

(a) Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?
(b) Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
(c) Have you ever felt Guilty about your drinking?
(d) Eye opener: Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hang-over?

A score on 2 or 3 on the CAGE is recommended as a cutoff for indentifying individuals with alcohol-related problems.

The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST)

The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test was developed in 1971 and is considered 98 percent accurate in identifying alcoholism. The Vanderbilt Addiction Center in Tennessee has an interactive version of MAST.

The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST)

The DAST was developed to help evaluate the need for addiction treatment specifically for drug users. Drugs refer to illicit drugs or prescription drugs obtained illegally or in excess of recommended dosages and any illicit drugs. Visit the Vanderbilt Addiction Center for an interactive version of DAST.

Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT)

In 1982, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) as a simple instrument to screen for persons at high risk of alcohol problems:

1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

2. How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?

3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?

4. How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?

5. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of drinking?

6. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?

7. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?

8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?
 
Questions 1-8 are scored as follows: Never = 0; Less than monthly = 1; Monthly = 2; Weekly = 3; and, Daily or almost daily = 4.
9. Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?

10. Has a relative, or friend, or doctor or other health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?

*The AUDIT is scored based on an answer range. Questions 9-10 are scored based on yes/no responses: No = 0; Yes, but not in the past year = 2; and, Yes, during the past year = 4.

A score of 8 or more is associated with risky drinking. Higher scores (13 or more for women and 15 or more for men) indicate the likelihood of alcohol dependence.

For more information on AUDIT Visit the WHO site for Screening and Brief Intervention for Alcohol Problems in Primary Health Care.

SUNSHINE COAST HEALTH CENTER SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOLS 

The 3 C Challenge

One of the first orders of business when dealing with the problems of drugs and alcohol use is determining the seriousness of the problem. Some family members will need proof that the behaviour is serious enough for them to intervene. There are many assessment tools available to quantify the severity of a drug or alcohol problem.

Sunshine Coast Health Center uses a simple self-assessment tool called the "3 C Challenge."

The Three C Assessment measures whether a bad habit has become an unhealthy addiction. You can apply it to any person and any bad habit. Try it yourself everyone has a bad habit (coff ee, fast driving, the internet and gaming, etc). The strength of this assessment tool is that it removes moral judgment from defining whether there is a problem. The following are examples of questions you can ask yourself about a family member's alcohol use.

1. The First C - Control

Does your loved one try to set limits on drinking and then fail to abide by them?

Does he drink and drive at all?

Does she promise to come home but ends up at the bar?

Does he set out to have a shot of rye and end up finishing the bottle?

Control problems are early indicators of a growing problem.

2. The Second C - Compulsion

Does your loved one spend a lot of their energy around planning and/or engaging in their bad habit?

Would your loved one ever go on a vacation without alcohol?

Is 2 or 3 drinks a dinner ritual?

Is it a big deal if there is no alcohol in the house?

3. The Third C - Consequences

Are problems occurring as a result of your loved one's bad habit and does he/she continue to engage in the behaviour despite a growing list of negative consequences?

For example, is she starting to have arguments with loved ones around how much she is drinking?

Has she been missing work or making excuses to leave work early?

Has he experienced his first DUI or 24 hour roadside suspension?

In essence, negative events are starting to occur in relation to the bad habit and your loved one cannot seem to associate these problems with their bad habit. Your loved one may blame stress, problems at work, or even your nagging as the real problem.

If all Three Cs apply, then it could be more than just a bad habit, it could be an addiction.

Alcoholism Test for Marriage Partners

Dr. Neill Neill, consulting psychologist at Sunshine Coast Health Center, has developed a test for spouse or partner of individuals with a drinking problem. Dr. Neill, having recognized that most functioning alcoholics are not interested in getting help, designed the Alcoholism Test for Marriage Partners.

OTHER ADDICTION SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOLS

Cocaine Anonymous Self-Test for Cocaine Addiction

Evaluate Your Drinking

CONCLUSION

If you need to discuss the results of these self-assessment tools, please feel free to contact Admissions toll-free at 1-866-487-9010. Our Admissions staff can put you in touch with one of our addiction specialists or refer you to one in your home community. If you prefer email please visit the Contact Us section.