When a person is addicted to alcohol, they could lose control over when and how much they drink. Then, when they are sober and realize, they start to feel bad or keep drinking to avoid guilty feelings.
Some people realize early they might have an addiction problem and take action. There are millions of who became addicts but took charge of their lives, sought treatment, and returned to happy and productive lives. Realizing early on gives a much better chance for a full recovery. Addiction assessment tests and tools are helpful for this.
If you are wondering whether you or a loved on has an issue with substance abuse, or a possible alcohol addiction, you can use one of several addiction assessment tools. These addiction assessments are designed to help you understand if you or your loved one possibly has a substance abuse problem or addiction. However, they are not meant to give a precise diagnosis.
So, after using such a tool, if you suspect possible addiction, you must do a follow up by seeking a professional assessment.
CAGE Questionnaire is an example of such self-assessment tool:
CAGE” is an acronym formed from the italicized words in the questionnaire (cut-annoyed-guilty-eye). The CAGE is a simple screening questionnaire to identify potential problems with alcohol. This test is a globally recognized addiction assessment method to check for possible drug and alcohol dependence.
Each question requires a simple yes or no answer. Here are the 4 questions in the test:
- Have you felt you ought to Cut down on your drinking or drug use?
- Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking or drug use?
- Have you felt bad or Guilty about your drinking or drug use?
- Have you ever had a drink or used drugs first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?
If a person answered “yes” to two or more of the 4 questions above, it suggests they may have a problem with substance abuse or addiction.
Out of the 4 questions, number 4 is considered most important. A positive answer to this question is a strong indicator that there might be a dangerous dependence.
After answering the questions, if you or your loved one find that there might be a problem, please seek immediate help.
Treatment can vary from individual or group counseling, to medications, to an outpatient therapy program, to an inpatient stay. No matter how serious the issue might appear, timely treatment can make a difference.
It is always the best option to seek help as soon as possible.
For more information refer to Substance Use Screening & Assessment Instruments Database: http://lib.adai.washington.edu/instruments/