Substance Abuse Assessment Questions

CAGE Questionnaire

This test is an internationally recognized addiction assessment method to identify possible drug and alcohol addiction. Each question requires a simple yes or no answer.

1. Have you felt you ought to Cut down on your drinking or drug use?
2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking or drug use?
3. Have you felt bad or Guilty about your drinking or drug use?
4. Have you ever had a drink or used drugs first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?

If you have answered “yes” to two or more of the questions above, it suggests you may have an issue with substance abuse or addiction.

It is important to note that the use of substances as an Eye-Opener (#4) is considered the most critical question. The reason for this is that if you have answered “yes” to this question alone, it signifies that there might be a dangerous dependence. There is a possibility that you are experiencing withdrawal in the morning and, therefore, require your substance of choice to move forward with your day.
(Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

TWEAK Test

This test is used specifically as an alcohol abuse screening test.

1. Tolerance: How many drinks can you hold without falling asleep or passing out? (2 points if six drinks or more)
2. Worried: Have friends or relatives worried about your drinking? (2 points if yes)
3. Eye-opener: Do you sometimes take a drink in the morning when you first get up? (1 point if yes)
4. Amnesia: Have friends or relatives told you about things you said or did while drinking that you could not remember? (1 point if yes)
5. Cut down: Do you sometimes feel the need to cut down on your drinking? (1 point if yes)

An answer of 6 to the first question or a total score of 3 or more suggests a problem with alcohol use and, therefore, a need for further assessment.
(Source: Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine)

Drug Abuse Questionnaire

1. Do you ever use alone?
2. Have you ever substituted one drug for another, thinking that one particular drug was the problem?
3. Have you ever manipulated or lied to a doctor to obtain prescription drugs?
4. Have you ever stolen drugs or stolen to obtain drugs?
5. Do you regularly use a drug when you wake up or when you go to bed?
6. Have you ever taken one drug to overcome the effects of another?
7. Do you avoid people or places that do not approve of you using drugs?
8. Have you ever used a drug without knowing what it was or what it would do to you?
9. Has your job or school performance ever suffered from the effects of your drug use?
10. Have you ever been arrested as a result of using drugs?
11. Have you ever lied about what or how much you use?
12. Do you put the purchase of drugs ahead of your financial responsibilities?
13. Have you ever tried to stop or control your using?
14. Have you ever been in a jail, hospital, or a drug rehab centre because of your using?
15. Does using interfere with your sleeping or eating?
16. Does the thought of running out of drugs terrify you?
17. Do you feel it is impossible for you to live without drugs?
18. Do you ever question your own sanity?
19. Is your drug use making life at home unhappy?
20. Have you ever thought you couldn’t fit in or have a good time without drugs?
21. Have you ever felt defensive, guilty, or ashamed about your using?
22. Do you think a lot about drugs?
23. Have you had irrational or indefinable fears?
24. Has using affected your sexual relationships?
25. Have you ever taken drugs you didn’t prefer?
26. Have you ever used drugs because of emotional pain or stress?
27. Have you ever overdosed on any drugs?
28. Do you continue to use despite negative consequences?
29. Do you think you might have a drug problem?

The number of questions which you have answered “Yes” to is not as important as how you felt while answering these questions. In some of these questions drugs are not even mentioned. The reason for this is addiction deceitfully affects every part of our lives, and this questionnaire aims to expose that. Once you realize that substance use is negatively affecting you or your loved ones life you can make the decision to get help.

If you are concerned about you or a loved one’s drug or alcohol abuse don’t wait for rock bottom to hit. Do something about it today. Addiction is not something that will magically disappear. It will progressively get worse, and without proper treatment can be fatal.

Contact Addiction Rehab Toronto today for help. Our addiction specialists are happy to assist you with a free addiction assessment and provide you with the resources required to start recovery. You can call us at 1-855-787-2424 or email us at info@addictionrehabtoronto.ca.