The question "Am I addicted?" is one of the most searched phrases related to substance use — and one of the hardest to answer honestly. Online quizzes are often oversimplified, and the spectrum between "completely fine" and "severe addiction" is wide. This guide walks you through the same validated screening tools that clinicians use, explains what the results mean, and helps you determine what (if any) next step makes sense.
Self-assessment is not self-diagnosis. The tools below are screening instruments — they identify patterns that merit professional evaluation. A high score does not mean you are addicted. A low score does not mean you are safe. What they do is give you language for a conversation with a professional.
AUDIT: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
The AUDIT is a 10-question screening tool developed by the World Health Organization. It is the most widely used alcohol screening instrument globally, validated across cultures and populations. Each question is scored 0 to 4, with a maximum total of 40.
| Score Range | Risk Level | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| 0–7 | Low risk | No intervention needed at this time |
| 8–15 | Hazardous use | Brief intervention; consider reducing consumption |
| 16–19 | Harmful use | Brief intervention plus counseling; monitor closely |
| 20–40 | Possible dependence | Full diagnostic evaluation recommended; treatment referral |
The AUDIT asks about frequency of drinking, typical quantity, frequency of heavy drinking (6+ drinks on one occasion), impaired control (inability to stop once started), failure to meet obligations due to drinking, needing a morning drink, guilt or remorse after drinking, blackouts, injuries related to drinking, and concern from others about your drinking.
DAST-10: Drug Abuse Screening Test
The DAST-10 covers all non-alcohol substance use and consists of 10 yes/no questions. Each "yes" scores 1 point.
| Score | Level of Concern | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No problems reported | No intervention needed |
| 1–2 | Low level concern | Monitor; brief intervention |
| 3–5 | Moderate concern | Assessment and possible outpatient treatment |
| 6–8 | Substantial concern | Intensive assessment and treatment |
| 9–10 | Severe concern | Intensive assessment and treatment strongly recommended |
The Honest Questions Behind the Screenings
What the clinical tools are really measuring can be distilled into a handful of core questions. Have you tried to cut down and been unable to? Do you spend a significant amount of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the substance? Have you given up activities you once enjoyed because of substance use? Do you continue to use despite knowing it is causing physical, psychological, or interpersonal harm? Do you need more than you used to in order to achieve the same effect?
What to Do With Your Results
If your screening scores suggest hazardous use, harmful use, or possible dependence, the appropriate next step is a conversation with a qualified professional — not an internet article (including this one). This could be your primary care physician, a licensed counselor, an addiction medicine specialist, or the intake team at a treatment program. The purpose of screening is to lower the barrier to that conversation, not to replace it.
If you prefer a confidential, no-pressure conversation about what your patterns might mean and what options exist, treatment programs like those accessible through colombiarehab.co offer free initial consultations with no obligation.
If you are taking a self-assessment, you are already doing something brave. Whatever the results say, the fact that you are asking the question 'Am I addicted?' deserves respect — not judgment. Many people who now live in recovery started with exactly this question.
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Reach out confidentially. No pressure, no judgment — just answers about treatment options in Colombia.
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