Our online addiction self-test can you decide if you’ve developed an addiction to alcohol or other drugs. Because addiction affects our brains’ reward, memory and motivation circuits, this can render us incapable of recognising our own addiction. If you’re on this page exploring whether you have a problem, well done, it’s a brave step.
Loss of control is a key indicator that addiction could be an issue. Continuing your drug or alcohol abuse, despite harmful consequences, is clear loss of control.
Remember that addiction is a medical condition. It needs treatment just like any other illness. There is hope. Many millions of people have become clean and sober – ending the addictive cycle and now lead useful, productive lives. Call us for a confidential assessment, anytime.
Some people become addicted quickly, progressing to full-blown addiction in a short amount of time. For others, drug or alcohol addiction develops gradually over many years. In reality, it’s typical for people around us to realise the severity of the problem before we do, despite our best efforts to conceal our drinking or using.
Addiction has behavioural and physical indicators. Answering the below questions may help you to gain some insight.
CAGE Questions Adapted to Include Drug Use (CAGE-AID)
1. Have you ever felt you ought to cut down on your drinking or drug use?
2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking or drug use?
3. Have you felt bad or guilty about your drinking or drug use?
4. 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)?
The higher your score, the higher the likelihood that you have an addiction. If you scored two this indicates that you may require treatment. Feeling uncertain about the next step can be overwhelming. If you want answers and relief, we’re here to help.
Our treatment access coordinators can provide you with a confidential assessment that will help you determine what type of treatment is best suited for you and how we can bill your medical aid to cover the cost of rehab.
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria
The following 11 official diagnostic criteria are based on decades of research and clinical information and are used to diagnose addiction (substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder).
Total the number that you respond to with a ‘yes’.
- Alcohol or substances are taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than you intended.
- You want to cut down or stop drinking/using the substance but are not managing to?
- Do you spend a lot of time getting, using or recovering from the use of alcohol or drugs?
- Have you experienced cravings or urges to drink or use the substance?
- Is drinking/substance use preventing you from meeting some or all responsibilities related to work, home or school?
- Have you continued to drink/use the substance even when it is causing problems in your relationships?
- Have you given up important social, occupational or recreational activities because of drinking/substance use?
- Have you used alcohol/substances again and again, even when it puts you in danger?
- Do you continue to drink/use, even when you know that you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the drinking/substance?
- Have you needed more of the substance/alcohol to get the effect you want (tolerance)?
- Have you developed any withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by drinking/taking more of the substance?
Results.
The presence of at least two of these symptoms indicates an addiction. Classification is mild, moderate, or severe:
- Mild: The presence of 2 to 3 symptoms.
- Moderate: The presence of 4 to 5 symptoms.
- Severe: The presence of 6 or more symptoms.
Do you need help?
Reach out today for the confidential advice of an addiction professional at Changes Addiction Rehab for an obligation-free assessment. We’ll answer all your questions and help you to figure out which type of treatment is right for you. We’ll also get pre-auth from your medical aid, so they pay for your treatment.
With the right help, recovery is possible. Recovery is not for the chosen few, but for the few who choose.