What Questions to Ask to Determine if You Or Someone You Love Has An Alcohol Problem?

There are screening questions that professions use to determine if an individual may have a problem with alcohol including alcohol abuse or alcoholism. These questions are geared to focus on alcohol habits, behavior and consequences of drinking alcohol. The answers to these questions are often used in order to make alcohol-related diagnoses (alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence also known as alcoholism).

Answering yes to one or more of the alcohol abuse screening questions may indicate to a medical professional that you do have a problem with alcohol if the occurrence happened within a 12-month period of time.

One question has to do with whether or not you have ever driven a motor vehicle after having more than two drinks if a male or more than one drink if a female.

Another question concerns whether or not you have been in situations that may be dangerous to be in if you are drunk such as swimming, using dangerous machinery, being in a dangerous area or going into areas of heavy traffic.

A question may be asked concerning whether or not you have ever been involved in a fight while drinking or directly after you have been drinking.

It will be determined if you have ever had a period of time in which your drinking has had a negative impact on your ability to function at work or school or if your drinking has caused any problems with family members or friends.

You will be asked about any arrest records you may have within the last 12 months that involve the use of alcohol or if you have had any other legal problems as a direct result of your drinking such as destroying property, accusations of violence or abuse while drunk.

An individual can graduate from abusing alcohol to being addicted to or dependent upon alcohol over time and in that case different questions may be helpful in determining if the individual is suffering from alcohol dependence (alcoholism) which is a chronic and progressive disease involving the craving for alcohol and the inability to stop drinking alcohol despite serious consequences to self, family, finances or health.

Questions that may help to determine if the person has a problem with alcohol and is dependent on it are:

Have you ever ended up drinking more alcohol than you intended to drink originally?

Have you ever tried to stop drinking but were unsuccessful?

Do you have to drink a larger quantity of alcohol to receive the same buzz as previous lower amounts of alcohol?

Have you ever taken a drug, medicine, or other beverage in order to avoid the bad after-effects from drinking or from experiencing a hangover?

Have you ever continued to drink despite the fact that it makes you anxious, depressed, experience "blackouts" or you have noticed that your drinking is resulting in a health problem but you continue to drink anyways?

Has your drinking habit forced you to give up favorite activities, being with family or friends or doing things that once brought you pleasure just so you could drink instead?

Answering yes to one or more of the above screening questions for alcohol dependence (alcoholism) during the last 12-month period may indicate that you have a problem with alcohol that could be diagnosed as alcoholism.

It is important that if you or someone you love can answer yes to any of the above questions within the last 12-month period that you seek medical advice immediately; your health may depend on it.

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