In this exercise you will review the common symptoms of
substance abuse and dependence and asked to decide if each symptoms applies to
you. You will then be able to tie
all of your answers together and see if you meet medical criteria for substance
abuse or dependence or at high risk of developing it. At each step in this process, you will be asked to notice if
you were able to recognize and stop your denial when it was turned on.
1.
Do you use alcohol more than twice a week?
Do you consider that a problem: Please Explain.
2.
On the days when you use alcohol, do you usually have three drinks or
more? Do you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
3.
Do you use non-prescription drugs from time to time? Do you consider that
a problem? Please Explain.
4.
Do you use prescription drugs that change your mood or personality? Do
you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
5.
Do you sometimes use more than the amount prescribed? Do you consider
that a problem? Please Explain.
6.
Do you get intoxicated on alcohol or drugs more than twice a year?
(You’re intoxicated if you use so much that you can’t function safely
or normally, or if other people think you can’t function safely or normally).
Do you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
7.
When you’re not using alcohol or drugs, do you ever put yourself in
situations that raise your risk of getting hurt or having problems? Do you
consider that a problem? Please Explain.
8.
Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?
Do you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
9.
Have other people ever criticized your drinking or drug use, or been
annoyed by it? Do you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
10.
Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking or drug use? Do you
consider that a problem? Please Explain.
11.
Have you ever done things while you were using alcohol or drugs that you
regretted or that made you feel guilty or ashamed? Do you consider that a
problem? Please Explain.
12.
Have you ever used alcohol or drugs first thing in the morning to feel
better, or to get rid of a hangover? Do you consider that a problem? Please
Explain.
13.
Have you ever thought that you might have a problem with your drinking or
drug use? Do you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
14.
Have you ever used alcohol or drugs in larger quantities that you
intended? For example, have you
ever used more than you wanted to or could afford to? Do you consider that a
problem? Please Explain.
15.
Have you ever used alcohol or drugs more often than you intended?
For example, have you ever planned not to use that day but done it
anyway? Do you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
16.
Have you ever used alcohol or drugs for longer periods of time than you
intended? In other words, have you
ever not been able to stop when you planned to? Do you consider that a problem?
Please Explain.
17.
Have you ever had a desire to cut down or control your use?
18.
Have you ever tried to cut down or control your use? Do you consider that
a problem? Please Explain.
19.
Do you spend a lot of time getting ready to use alcohol or drugs, using,
or recovering from using? Do you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
20.
Have you ever failed to meet a major life responsibility because you were
intoxicated, hung over, or in withdrawal (having discomfort because you were no
longer using)? Do you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
21.
Have you given up any work, social, or recreational activities because of
alcohol or drug use? Do you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
22.
Have you had any physical, psychological, or social problems that were
caused by, or made worse by, your alcohol or drug use? Do you consider that a
problem? Please Explain.
23.
Have you ever continued to use alcohol or drugs even though you knew they
were causing physical, psychological, or social problems, or making those
problems worse? Do you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
24.
Did your tolerance (your ability to use a lot of alcohol and drugs
without feeling intoxicated) increase after you started to use? Do you consider
that a problem? Please Explain.
25.
Do you ever get physically uncomfortable or sick the day after using
alcohol or drugs? Do you consider that a problem? Please Explain.
26.
Have you ever used alcohol or drugs to keep you from getting sick the
next day, or to make a hangover go away? Do you consider that a problem? Please
Explain.
27.
When you use alcohol or drugs, what do you want those substances to do
for you that you believe you can't do without them?
28.
When you use alcohol or drugs, what to you want those substances to help
you escape from that you believe you can’t escape without them?
Finding Out What You Answers Mean
To find out what the answers to the questions mean, let’s
complete the following steps:
First, let’s count how many times the client answered
"Yes" to questions 1 - 13. and
write that number down.
Second, let’s count how many times the client answered
"Yes" the questions 14 - 26. and write that number down.
If you answered "No" to all of the questions, you are
probably at Low Risk of Addiction.
If you answered "yes" to three or more of the
questions numbered I through 13, and "No" to all of the remaining
questions you are probably at High Risk of
Addiction.
If you answered "Yes" to more than three of the
questions numbered I through 13, and "Yes" to between three and six of
the questions numbered 14 through 26 you are probably in the Early
Stages Of Addiction.
If you answered "Yes" to more than three of the
questions numbered 1 through 13, and "Yes" to between six and nine of
the questions numbered 14 through 26 you are probably in the Middle
Stages Of Addiction.
If you answered "Yes" to more than three of the
questions numbered I through 13, and "Yes" to more than nine of the
questions numbered 14 through 26 you are probably in the Late Stages Of Addiction.
You are probably dependent upon alcohol or drugs you believes
that: (1) alcohol and drugs can do
things for you that you can't do without those substances, or (2) alcohol and
drugs can help you cope with things that you can't cope with unless you're
using,. Only people who are dependent on alcohol or drugs expect these
substances to do things for them that they can't do without them.
Now let’s complete the two part denial check using the Denial
Self-Monitoring Form.