3 Ways to Take the Alcoholism Self Test

1. Take the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test

The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) is a 22-item self test that asks about your drinking habits. MAST and its derivations are the de facto standard used by therapists to identify problematic drinking and alcoholism. Though the yes/no questions can be interpreted by a counselor, the test is easily accessible on and offline and doesn't have to be administered by a professional. It's easy enough to answer the questions, though it may not be as easy to accept the answers.

If you're uncomfortable visiting a counselor or having the test on your computer, contact your local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous and ask them to send you a copy of the questions or ask about where you can locate a copy. Once you have the questions, be prepared to examine your drinking habits, including when you drink, how often and whether your drinking has caused distress to you or any of your family members.

The test also asks about how drinking has affected your work and whether you've ever sought help for alcoholism. Look at your answers and count how many questions are answered with a "yes." If you have answered at least three questions in the affirmative, it's time to seek help for your drinking.

2. Take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

Developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test is a quick, 10-question self-screening tool used to assess your level of dependence on alcohol. Since some of the multiple-choice test questions ask about how many "drinks" you consume daily, weekly and on various occasions, it's good to have a sense of what constitutes a drink. WHO defines one drink as 12 oz. of beer, 6 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of 80-proof distilled spirits.

After answering the questions--which ask everything from how many drinks you consume in 1 day to how often you think about alcohol--you can score the test. The test items are scored incrementally. So, checking the first box of any given question is zero points, the second box is one point and so on. Add up your score, keeping in mind that WHO recommendations state that consuming any more than four drinks, four times a week is an indicator of alcoholism. If you score higher than a four or five on the test, it's possible you have a drinking problem.

3. Take the Teenage Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Self Test

For teenagers, social drinking can easily develop into alcoholism. Peer pressure combined with a still-developing neurological system makes it much easier for teenagers to become dependent on alcohol and less likely to be aware of it than adults. If you're a teen who is willing to be honest about your drinking you can complete the Teenage Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Self Test to screen for problematic drinking habits.

Ask yourself whether you think you need to cut down on drinking or whether your friends criticize you for being "drunk all the time" or "drinking too much." Does your family have a history of alcoholism? If so, the chances of you developing it are considerably higher. Decide whether or not you feel bad about your drinking and think about whether you drink early in the morning or put yourself in danger when you're drunk. Answering "yes" to one or more of these questions indicates you should speak to a counselor and take the complete self test.