If you or a loved one have become dependent on alcohol or another drug, treatment can significantly improve your life. But before you can get the help that’s right, it’s important to acknowledge the problem. This “Am I an Addict Quiz” can help you determine whether you or a loved one may be addicted to drugs or alcohol.
According to the National Institutes of Health, about one of every 10 adults in the United States will develop an addiction at some point in their life. Although addiction is a treatable condition, the NIH also reports that about 75% of people who have this disorder don’t get the care they need.
What is Addiction?
The clinical term for addiction is substance use disorder.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), substance use disorders are characterized by “a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating that the individual continues using the substance despite significant substance-related problems.”
In non-clinical terms, this means that addiction impacts how you think, act, and function.
When you become addicted to alcohol or another drug, you have powerful urges that you may feel helpless to resist. You lose the ability to control how much of the substance you consume and how often you do so. And in circumstances where you cannot use the substance, or if you try to stop or significantly reduce your use, you are likely to experience physical and psychological distress.
The Am I an Addict Quiz
Finding out if you or a loved one is an addict may not be as simple as it first sounds.
Certain symptoms are common among almost everyone who becomes addicted to any drug. But other symptoms can vary from person to person and substance to substance. Not every person will experience addiction in the exact same way.
With that understanding, this Am I an Addict quiz can help you determine if you have developed a substance use disorder. When you are completing this quiz, please note that the word “drugs” refers to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, prescription painkillers, and all other addictive substances.
- Do you rely on drugs to help you wake up or get to sleep?
- Do you need to use drugs to experience joy or just feel happy?
- Do you use drugs to cope with sadness, frustration, or other negative emotions?
- Once you start using drugs, do you find it difficult or impossible to stop?
- Has your drug use caused you to miss school or work?
- Have you continued to use drugs even after having problems (such as an injury, a DUI, or difficulties at work) due to previous use?
- Do you ever use drugs when you are alone?
- Have you used drugs when it is clearly dangerous to do so, such as before driving a car?
- Have you lied to or misled friends and family about the amount or frequency of your drug use?
- Has your drug use been a source of conflict with friends or family members?
- When you can’t acquire or use drugs, do you feel angry, agitated, or otherwise upset?
- Do you find it difficult to get through a full day without using drugs?
- Do you need to use larger amounts of the drug to experience the effects that you are seeking?
- Have you ever tried to stop using a drug but been unable to do so?
- Have you ever seriously considered the question, “Am I an addict?”
Important note: This Am I an Addict quiz is not a substitute for being assessed and diagnosed by a qualified professional. If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you may have an addiction, and you should consult with your doctor or another specialist.
So, Am I an Addict?
Answering yes to a few questions on the quiz might indicate you have a problem with alcohol or another drug. Answering yes to most or all the questions is stronger evidence that you may have a substance use disorder.
But as we indicated at the end of the quiz, the way you answer these or any other informal questions is not absolute proof that you have developed an addiction. The only way to get a definitive answer, is to complete an assessment and be diagnosed by a doctor, psychiatrist, or other appropriate professional.
In addition to determining if you do, indeed, have an addiction, the professional who conducts your assessment can also help you decide which type of treatment is right for you.
What Can I do to Overcome My Addiction?
When you are seeking treatment for addiction, you have many options.
One of the first factors to consider is if you need detox. A detoxification program can help you get through withdrawal safely and with as little discomfort as possible.
After detox, you may need residential treatment and/or outpatient care.
In a residential program, you will live at the facility where you are receiving treatment. In addition to offering round-the-clock care, residential programs also allow you to temporarily step away from the pressure and distractions of daily life.
Outpatient programs offer a variety of beneficial services without a residential requirement. This means you can go home or to a supportive living house when treatment is not in session. Some people step down to an outpatient program for additional support after they’ve completed residential care. Others enter treatment directly at the outpatient level.
Contact Our Addiction Treatment Centers Near Los Angeles
If you have answered yes to the question, “Am I an addict,” please don’t despair. Addiction is a treatable condition, and Renewal Health Group is here to help. We can assess the full scope of your needs and then provide you with the focused care you need. Contact us today to learn more about our programs and services.
