How Can I Tell If I Have a Drinking Problem?
The Answer May Be More Simple Than You Think

The short answer is if you have to ask, chances are you have a problem. If others in your life have told you that you have a problem, you probably do. If you have continued to drink in spite of negative consequences, that could be an indication of a serious problem.

Most people who experience problems with drinking, simply quit. They have one particularly painful or embarrassing drinking incident, wake up the next morning and tell themselves, "Never again!" and that's it. They stop drinking; just like that, no problem.

If you have done the same thing -- told yourself you would never get that drunk again, or even drink again -- but found yourself a few days later doing exactly what you swore to yourself you would never do, chances are your drinking falls into the category of alcohol abuse, at the very least, and alcohol dependence at worse.

Alcohol abuse is described as any "harmful use" of alcohol and that by definition is a "drinking problem." Whether or not you have become alcohol dependent is another question -- and whether or not you come to believe that you are an alcoholic, is yet another question.

If you think that you have a drinking problem, you should seek a full evaluation by a healthcare professional.

There are many diagnostics tests available online that can help you self-evaluate your drinking, but none of them should substitute for professional medical advice.

Here are some of the tests that are available online:

AlcoholScreening.org
AlcoholScreening.org is a service of Join Together as part of its Demand Treatment! initiative. The interactive test is based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), developed by the World Health Organization and is completely confidential and anonymous.

AA's 12 Questions
This yes-or-no 12-question test is used to determine if A.A. might be helpful to you, but it can also be used to help you determine if you are in "deep trouble" with your drinking.

CAGE Questionnaire
Developed by the American Psychiatric Association, this four-question test is usually used by healthcare professionals to quickly determine if the need for further evaluation of a patient's alcohol use is indicated.

Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST)
This 25-question test has been around for many years. Answers are weighted on a point system and a score of three points or less is considered non-alcoholic, four points is suggestive of alcoholism, a score of five points or more indicates alcoholism.