Addiction Self Assessment
Are You Ready for Recovery? Take Our Free 3-Minute Self Assessment
“Do I really have a problem?”
Each person’s “bottom” is different. Some people recognize they are in trouble early. When they don’t feel in control of their drinking anymore. When they lose a promotion or mess up a deal. When they get a DWI.
Others wait until they lose their jobs or their families, until they hurt someone in a traffic accident, until a child runs away from home, or until liver disease lands them in the hospital. Still others stubbornly hold out for a bottom that lands them in jail or on the street. A few never stop denying until they are undeniably dead.
What you need to ask yourself is:
“How far down do I want to go before I make an effort to come back up?”
And,
“Am I willing to risk the possibility that I’ll NEVER make it back up?”
Many of us started to drink or use because mind-altering substances made life seem better. At least for a while. But before we know it, we feel trapped. Now we’re drinking and/or using to live, and living to drink or use. We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Is this you? Take 3 minutes to read the self-assessment below. Find out for yourself.
Self Assessment
Answer “YES” or “NO” to the following questions.
1. Did you ever decide to stop drinking/using for a week, but only lasted a few days?
Most of us made all kinds of promises to ourselves and to our families. We could not keep them. Then we came to recovery which said, “Just try not to drink or use today.” (If you do not drink or use today, you cannot get drunk or high today.)
2. Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking or using?
In recovery, we do not tell anyone to do anything. We just talk about our own drinking/using, the trouble we got into, and how we stopped. We will be glad to help you too.
3. Ever switched to another drink/drug, hoping it would keep you from getting drunk/high?
We tried all kinds of ways. We made our drinks weak, or just drank beer, or we did not drink cocktails, or only drank on weekends. You name it, we tried it. But if we drank anything with alcohol in it, we eventually got drunk. If we used any drug, we eventually got high.
4. Have you ever needed a drink upon awakening during the past year?
Do you “need” a drink or drug to get started, or to stop shaking? This is a pretty sure sign that you are not drinking/using “socially.”
5. Do you envy people who can drink or use without getting in trouble?
At one time or another, most of us have wondered why we were not like most people who truly can take it or leave it.
6. Have you had problems connected with drinking/using in the past year?
Be honest! Doctors say that if you have a problem with alcohol and/or drugs (DUI/DWIs, accidents, etc.) and keep on drinking/using, it will get worse. Never better. Eventually, you will die, or end up in an institution for the rest of your life. The only hope is to stop drinking and using.
7. Has your drinking/using caused problems at home?
Before we came into recovery, most of us said that it was the people or problems at home that made us drink or use. We could not see that our drinking/using just made everything worse. It never solved problems anywhere, anytime.
8. Do you ever try to get “extra” drinks/drugs at a party, because you don’t get enough?
Most of us used to have a “few” before we started out if we thought it was going to be that kind of party. And if drinks were not served fast enough, we would go someplace else to get more.
9. You can stop any time you want, right?
Many of us kidded ourselves into thinking that we chose drinking and/or using because we wanted to. After we came into recovery, we found out that once we started to drink/use, we couldn’t stop.
10. Have you missed days of work or school because of drinking/using?
Many of us admit now that we “called in sick” lots of times when the truth was that we were hungover, drunk or high.
11. Do you ever have “blackouts”?
A “blackout” is when we have been drinking or using for hours or days which we cannot remember. When we came to recovery, we found out that this is a pretty sure sign of addictive using and/or alcoholic drinking.
12. Have you ever felt your life would be better if you did not drink or use drugs?
Many of us started to drink or use because mind-altering substances made life seem better, at least for a while. By the time we got into recovery, we felt trapped. We were drinking and/or using to live and living to drink or use. We were sick and tired of being sick and tired.
What’s your score? Did you answer “YES” more than 3 times?
If so, you are probably in trouble with alcohol and/or drugs. We know, because thousands of people in recovery have said so for many years. They found out the truth about themselves…the hard way. But again, only you can decide whether you think recovery is for you. Try to keep an open mind on the subject.
If the answer is “YES” – we are glad to show you how we stopped drinking ourselves. To help us help you, please use the Contact Us form below.
Recovery: The Ongoing Action of Living Sober – and Happy
We will help you learn:
- How to live without mind-altering substances, “one day at a time.”
- How to stay away from that first drink, first pill, first drug.
- If there is no first drink or drug, there cannot be a second.
Bonus: When you recover from alcoholism and/or substance abuse, life is worth living and much more enjoyable!
Our Service Area
Support Systems Homes serves the Greater Bay Area of Northern California; as well as Santa Clara County, Alameda County, San Mateo County and San Francisco.
Some of the cities we serve include: Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, San Leandro, and San Francisco.
Questions about Addiction? We Have Answers.
Call Support Systems Homes at 408-370-9688 or 800-811-1800.