Interactive Tool: Do You Have a Drinking Problem?

What does this tool help you learn?

This tool can help you see if your drinking is dangerous or unhealthy or if you may be addicted to alcohol.

The results may show that you need to seek help from a doctor.Try to answer the questions as accurately as possible. The answers to your test are confidential.

This tool alone is not enough for diagnosis. If you think you might have a drinking problem, seek help from a health professional no matter how you score on this test.

Used with permission from: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Guidelines for Use in Primary Care, Second Edition. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2001.

What does your score mean?

The more signs of an alcohol problem you have, the higher your score will be. Your score will appear as one of the following:

• Low risk for alcohol problems: Your drinking habits are probably not harmful as long as you continue to limit your alcohol intake or don't drink at all. See the topic Drinking and Your Health.
• Medium risk for alcohol problems: You may drink too much from time to time. Your drinking habits may not be safe or healthy for yourself or others. Limit how much you drink, or quit altogether.
• High risk for alcohol problems:Your drinking is likely to cause problems if you don't cut back or quit altogether. Talk to your doctor about how you can limit your drinking or quit. If you have trouble cutting back or quitting for an extended period of time, or if you start drinking more, see your doctor or another health professional for help.
• Likely alcohol dependence: You are likely addicted to alcohol and need treatment to recover and stay sober. If you do not seek help, your drinking is likely to cause serious problems. See your doctor or another health professional for help.

As with all screening tools, this tool is not meant to take the place of a thorough evaluation by your doctor. If you think you may have a problem, see your doctor.

What's next?

Drinking too much can cause serious health problems. It also can have an impact on your life and the lives of people you care about. If you are concerned about your drinking or you cannot control how much you drink, contact your doctor for help right away. An untreated alcohol problem can get worse over time.

Sometimes it is possible to overcome an alcohol problem without help. But especially in the case of addiction, most people need treatment such as counseling and medicines to get better. With treatment, you can overcome your alcohol problems and live a healthier, happier life. The choice to go to your doctor for help is the first step on your path to getting better.

For more information, see the topic Alcohol Abuse and Dependence.