The idea that you might be dependent on a substance is a frightening one, and many people avoid asking the question: “Am I addicted?” Addiction is a complex and chronic brain disease that affects every part of a person’s life more and more as the condition progresses. Addressing it as soon as possible is essential to getting back on track for a happy and healthy life, while letting substance abuse continue unchecked will result in serious psychological and physical harm.
Addiction doesn’t occur all at once. It happens over time with repeated substance use, and many people don’t recognize the emotional and behavioral patterns that define the condition until it has grown out of control and taken over their life.
Find support for addiction recovery at Gateway Foundation.
877-381-6538Wondering how to know if you have an addiction? Identifying when substance abuse has turned to addiction can be complicated, especially when you are trying to evaluate yourself. When a medical or psychological professional wants to determine if someone is addicted to a substance, they use the criteria for substance use disorders (SUD) established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). The following questions in this drug and alcohol addiction assessment test draws on the DSM-5 criteria to help you determine whether or not you need help overcoming addiction to drugs or alcohol. Take the addiction test online to learn more.
Do you feel like you need to use the drug regularly?
Do you make sure you have a steady supply of your drug of choice on hand?
Do you want to stop, but can’t?
If you feel you can’t stop using, do you do things you normally would not do to get drugs?
Do you feel you need drugs to function normally?
Are you willing to do something dangerous while taking drugs, like operating a motor vehicle, or some kind of equipment that could cause bodily harm?
Coming to grips with addiction is never easy, but there is effective treatment available at Gateway. We provide evidence-based programs to treat the full spectrum of addictions at multiple levels of care, as well as the mental health care many people need to recover successfully.
