Do You Have A Drinking Problem that Requires Treatment?

By John Lee

Do you think that you may be drinking too much but aren’t sure if you have a drinking problem that requires treatment?

Well, the best way to know for sure is to talk with a health professional about your drinking habits to get an accurate assessment of your situation. That being said, you can also give yourself a quick self-assessment test known as the CAGE alcohol screening test, which is widely used in clinical practice to uncover problem drinking behaviors.

It’s only four questions long and has been proven to accurately predict problem drinking in people who score two or more “yes” answers.

The CAGE Self-Test

1. Have you ever felt that you should Cut down on your drinking?

2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

3. Have you ever felt Guilty about your drinking?

4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning as an Eye opener to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

Answering yes to two or more of the above questions indicates a likely problem with alcohol.

If you think that you need help, then you probably do. It doesn’t matter how much or how often you drink; what’s important is how alcohol affects your life, health and happiness. After all, the best definition of a drinking problem is simply drinking at a level that creates significant problems in some area of your life.

If you would like to find out more about programs that can help you take control of your drinking, call the National Resource Center at (888) 224-5702 to talk with treatment specialists about your situation and to learn more about alcoholism treatment options in your area.