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Self Assessment
Why Do You Drink?
Do you drink? If so, why? To enhance your pleasure? To cope
with your problems? To help you in your social encounters?
Half of all Americans use alcohol for a variety of reasons. Perhaps as many as 1 user in 10 is an alcoholic.
To gain insight into your reasons for using alcohol, respond
to the following items by clicking the T if an item is true or
mostly true for you, or the F if an item is false or mostly false for
you. Then click on the Score button.
19.
T F I can do better socially and sexually after having a
drink or two.
20.
T F Drinking makes me do stupid things.
21.
T F Sometimes when I have a few drinks, I can’t get to
work.
22.
T F I feel more caring and giving after having a drink
or two.
23.
T F I drink because I like the look of a drinker.
1.
T F I find it very unpleasant to do without alcohol for
some time.
24.
T F I like to drink more on festive occasions.
2.
T F Alcohol makes it easier for me to talk to other
people.
25.
T F When a friend or I have done something well,
we’re likely to have a drink or two.
3.
T F I drink to appear more grown-up and more sophisticated.
26.
4.
T F When I drink, the future looks brighter to me.
T F I have a drink when some problem is nagging
away at me.
5.
T F I like the taste of what I drink.
27.
T F I find drinking pleasurable.
6.
T F If I go without a drink for some time, I am not
bothered or uncomfortable.
28.
T F I like the “high” of drinking.
29.
7.
T F I feel more relaxed and less tense about things
when I drink.
T F Sometimes I pour a drink without realizing I still
have one that is unfinished.
30.
T F I feel I can better get others to do what I want
when I’ve had a drink or two.
31.
T F Having a drink keeps my mind off my problems at
home, at school, or at work.
32.
T F I get a real gnawing hunger for a drink when I
haven’t had one for a while.
33.
T F A drink or two relaxes me.
34.
T F Things look better when I’ve had a drink or two.
35.
T F My mood is much better after I’ve been drinking.
36.
T F I see things more clearly when I’ve been drinking.
8.
T F I drink so that I will fit in better with the crowd.
9.
T F I worry less about things when I drink.
10.
T F I have a drink when I get together with the family.
11.
T F I have a drink as part of my religious ceremonies.
12.
T F I have a drink when a toothache or some other
pain is disturbing me.
13.
T F I feel much more powerful when I have a drink.
14.
T F You really can’t blame me for the things I do when
I have been drinking.
15.
T F I have a drink before a big test, date, or interview
when I’m afraid of how well I’ll do.
37.
T F A drink or two enhances the pleasure of sex and
food.
16.
T F I find I have a drink for the taste alone.
38.
T F When I’m out of alcohol, I immediately buy more.
17.
T F I’ve found a drink in my hand when I can’t remember putting it there.
39.
T F I would have done much better on some things if
it weren’t for alcohol.
18.
T F I’ll have a drink when I feel “blue” or want to take
my mind off my cares and worries.
40.
T F When I have run out of alcohol, I find it almost
unbearable until I can get some more.
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Score
SCORING KEY FOR “WHY DO YOU DRINK?”
Why do you drink? Score your questionnaire by seeing how many items you answered for each of the reasons for drinking shown in
Table B.1. Consider the key as suggestive only. For example, if you answered several items in the manner indicated on the addiction factor, it may be wise to examine seriously what your drinking means to you. But do not interpret a few test item scores as binding evidence of addiction.
TABLE B.1 REASONS FOR DRINKING
Addiction
1. T
6. F
32. T
38. T
40. T
Anxiety/
Tension
Reduction
7. T
9. T
12. T
15. T
18. T
26. T
31. T
33. T
Reset
Pleasure/
Taste
2.
T
5.
T
16.
T
27.
T
28.
T
35.
T
37.
T
Transforming
Agent
2. T
4. T
19. T
22. T
28. T
30. T
34. T
36. T
Social
Reward
3. T
8. T
23. T
Celebration
10. T
24. T
25. T
Back to questions
Religion
11. T
Social
Power
2. T
13. T
19. T
30. T
Scapegoating (using
alcohol as an excuse
for failure or social
misconduct)
14. T
15. T
20. T
21. T
39. T
Habit
17. T
29. T