Discover if you are an alcoholic and have problems with drinking

The alcoholism it has become a serious public health problem, which affects more people each year and which worries many health specialists every day, and the relevant public administrations.

It is a disease that is characterized by the uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages at an excessive level that, in general, can end up endangering the individual's own health. It consists of a disorder that is divided into two categories: dependence and abuse.

Many specialists consider it as a type of drug dependence, in which there is a psychological addiction on the one hand, and a physical addiction on the other, since it creates a vicious circle that causes the person to have to drink alcohol that they do not originally need, due to that the organism "asks" it.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence  has made a test for know if a person is alcoholic.

How does this test work?

It responds, as in many similar tests, with "YES" or "NO", always choosing one answer or another.

Once the test has been completed by answering all the questions, all the affirmative answers and their total should be counted, comparing them with the result that we will explain to you at the end of this test. It is essential to record the number of those answers that have been affirmative.

This is the test to know if you have a problem with alcohol

  1. Do you tend to drink more when you find yourself disappointed, under pressure or after a personal, professional conflict ...?
  2. Do you now tolerate more alcohol than when you started drinking?
  3. Have you ever been unable to remember part of the previous night, despite not having lost consciousness at any time?
  4. When you drink with other people, do you try to drink more when others do not realize it?
  5. Do you feel uncomfortable when you know you do not have alcohol?
  6. Now more than before you advance the time to take the first drink of the day?
  7. Do you sometimes feel guilty about drinking?
  8. Has a relative - or a close friend - expressed concern about your drinking?
  9. Do you currently suffer more memory gaps than before?
  10. Do you still want to drink after your friends tell you that enough is enough?
  11. Do you usually have a reason to justify drinking too much?
  12. When you are sober, have you regretted something that you said or did while drinking?
  13. Have you tried to follow a strategy to control your drinking (change the type or brand of the drink ...)?
  14. Have you ever failed to fulfill self-imposed promises made with the aim of reducing your alcohol consumption?
  15. Have you been arrested, processed or had a legal problem while drunk?
  16. Do you try to avoid close relatives or friends while you drink?
  17. Has your family, social, professional or economic status deteriorated as a result of drinking?
  18. Has your doctor advised you to reduce your alcohol consumption?
  19. Do you eat irregularly or sparingly while you drink?
  20. Do you feel nervous in the morning and taking some kind of medication or drinking helps you to calm down?
  21. Do you feel that you can not drink as much as you used to?
  22. Have you ever gotten drunk several days in a row?
  23. After extended periods of time of consumption, have you heard things that do not exist?
  24. Have you ever asked for help to stop drinking?
  25. Before, during or after excessive alcohol consumption, have you felt especially anxious or depressed?
  26. Is there or has there been any alcoholism problem among your family members?

Test results

  • If you have answered two or more questions affirmatively, you may be at increased risk of alcoholism.
  • If between 2 to 8 questions are positive, it is advisable to make an appointment with your doctor in order to evaluate the circumstances more accurately.
  • If there are more than 8 affirmative answers, you may have a major problem with alcohol. It is important that you need specialized medical attention immediately.

This test does not replace the medical consultation and has only been made for guidance purposes by the NCADD, and should not serve as a diagnosis of alcoholism. It will always be the doctor who will inform you of your true situation. ThemesAlcohol

How to Detect the Signs of Alcoholism (February 2024)