An alcoholic is an individual that is diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, also known as alcoholism. Alcohol use disorder is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). It is defined as a chronic disease that is characterized by uncontrolled drinking and preoccupation with alcohol. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a 10-item questionnaire that “is a simple and effective method of screening for unhealthy alcohol use, defined as risky or hazardous consumption or any alcohol use disorder.” It was published in 1989 and was based on a multinational collaborative study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO). In order to answer the following questions accurately it is imperative to understand the definition of one standard drink, which according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism includes one of 12 ounces of regular beer with approximately 5% alcohol content; 8 – 9 ounces of malt liquor with approximately 7% alcohol content; 5 ounces of unfortified wine with approximately 12% alcohol content; 1.5 ounces of 80-proof hard liquor with approximately 40% alcohol content.
- How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
- Never (score 0)
- Monthly or Less (score 1)
- 2-4 times a month (score 2)
- 2-3 times a week (score 3)
- 4 or more times a week (score 4)
- How many alcoholic drinks do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?
- 1 or 2 (0)
- 3 or 4 (1)
- 5 or 6 (2)
- 7-9 (3)
- 10 or more (4)
- How often do you have 6 or more drinks on one occasion?
- Never (0)
- Less than monthly (1)
- Monthly (2)
- Weekly (3)
- Daily or almost daily (4)
- How often during the past year have you found that you drank more or for a longer time than you intended?
- Never (0)
- Less than monthly (1)
- Monthly (2)
- Weekly (3)
- Daily or almost daily (4)
- How often during the past year have you failed to do what was normally expected of you because of your drinking?
- Never (0)
- Less than monthly (1)
- Monthly (2)
- Weekly (3)
- Daily or almost daily (4)
- How often during the past year have you had a drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
- Never (0)
- Less than monthly (1)
- Monthly (2)
- Weekly (3)
- Daily or almost daily (4)
- How often during the past year have you felt guilty or remorseful after drinking?
- Never (0)
- Less than monthly (1)
- Monthly (2)
- Weekly (3)
- Daily or almost daily (4)
- How often during the past year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because of your drinking?
- No (0)
- Yes, but not in the past year (2)
- Yes, during the past year (4)
- Has a relative, friend, doctor, or health care worker been concerned about your drinking, or suggested that you cut down?
- No (0)
- Yes, but not in the past year (2)
- Yes, during the past year (4)
Your score: Add up the points associated with the answers. A total score of 8 or more indicates harmful drinking behavior. If you scored 8-10 or higher, there is a significant possibility you are addicted to alcohol.
For Information and Support
Substance abuse and addiction can be incredibly dangerous and can result in severe short and long-term consequences. If you or someone you know is suffering from substance abuse or addiction, please get help as soon as possible. The earlier you seek support, the sooner you and your loved ones can return to leading happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. There is no reason to go through this alone, and we are here to help. Please feel free to reach out to us for further information or with any questions regarding substance abuse or addiction. We are available anytime via telephone at: 213-389-9964, or you can always email us at: info@friendlyhousela.org.
