The following screening test has excellent reliability and validity established across multicultural populations. It was developed by the World Health Organization and was published in a highly recommended volume: Hester, R.K., & Miller, W.R. (1995). Handbook of Alcoholism Treatment Approaches: Effective Alternatives (2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
The scoring is simple: the numbers for each response are added up to give a composite score.
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1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol? |
0=Never 1=Monthly or less 2=Two-four/month 3=Two-three/week 4=Four or more/week |
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2. How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking? |
0=None 1=One or two 2=Three or four 3=Five or six 4=Seven to nine 5=Ten or more |
| 3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion? | 0=Never 1=Less than monthly2=Monthly 3=Weekly 4=Daily or almost daily |
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4. How often during the last year have you found that you were unable to stop drinking once you started? |
0=Never 1=Less than monthly 2=Monthly3=Weekly 4=Daily or almost daily |
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5. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of drinking? |
0=Never 1=Less than monthly2=Monthly 3=Weekly 4=Daily or almost daily |
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6. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get going after a heavy drinking session? |
0=Never 1=Less than monthly2=Monthly 3=Weekly 4=Daily or almost daily |
| 7. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking? | 0=Never 1=Less than monthly2=Monthly 3=Weekly 4=Daily or almost daily |
| 8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember the night before because you had been drinking? | 0=Never 1=Less than monthly2=Monthly 3=Weekly 4=Daily or almost daily |
| 9. Have you or someone else been injured as the result of your drinking? | 0=Never 1=Less than monthly2=Monthly 3=Weekly 4=Daily or almost daily |
| 10. Has a relative, friend or health professional been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down? | 0=Never 1=Less than monthly2=Monthly 3=Weekly 4=Daily or almost daily |
Scores above eight warrant an in-depth assessment and may be indicative of an alcohol problem. If you or someone you know is dealing with an alcohol problem, contact the Health & Wellness Center at 920-403-3266 or schedule an appointment online.
