Signs your alcohol or substance use may be an addiction.

Denial is one of the main components which fuels a drug or alcohol addiction, and can be one of the most destructive aspects of any addiction – not being able to recognize if and when you have an addiction is one common reason why substance use spirals out of control.

If you continually use drugs and/or alcohol on a regular basis you may wish to review the following list of questions (please be honest!):

1) These days, do you find that it takes more and more to get high/drunk than it used to (having developed a significant tolerance to a substance is one of the first signs of addiction)

2) Do you keep a constant drug or alcohol supply handy (do you stock up in anticipation of running out – i.e., the liquor store may be closed for an upcoming holiday - or contact the dealer ahead of time before your supply runs out – this type of preoccupation is one of the signs of addiction).

3) Do you ever drink or use more than you intended to (not being able to control how much you use is another sign of addiction)

4) Do you have blackouts or periods where you can not remember what has happened

5) Do you find yourself reaching for the drug or alcohol when you feel emotionally upset, need to calm yourself, or feel anxiety of any kind (this indicates not only an increasing emotional dependency on the substance but also the using of the substance as replacement for dealing with emotions).

6) Have you ever been drunk or high at work, school, special occasions, etc. (not being able to manage the substance to the point where you have been unable to abstain in situations such as the above is a sign of addiction).

7) Have you ever driven while drunk or high, or done any other activity which would have placed you or others in harm’s way.

8) If taking prescription drugs, do you convince yourself that taking more will only increase the benefits, heal you faster, or lead to a more rapid recovery – do you convince yourself of this even though the instructions detail an exact amount to take (this form of denial and self- delusion is another sign of addiction).

9) If you use prescription drugs in the above manner, do you still convince yourself that it is legal anyway because it is a legally prescribed drug, your doctor keeps prescribing it, or it is the only drug you take (this different form of denial and self-delusion is another sign of addiction).

10) Have you ever used drugs or alcohol first think in the morning to deal with a hangover, depression, anxiety, or just to get out of bed.

11) Have you tried repeatedly to stop taking the drug or alcohol and been unable to do so for an extended period of time.

12) If you have stopped taking the drug or alcohol, how long did this period last before you allowed yourself to begin using the substance again – it is impossible for an addict to abstain from using the substance of choice for a long period of time.

13) Have you stopped only in an attempt to convince to yourself that you can control your use (non-addicts do not have to reassure themselves).

12.) Have friend or family members more than once felt the need to address your alcohol and drug use – have you denied this in the face of their accusations, and subsequently felt angry or hostile.

14) Has this led you to deny, hide, or otherwise lie about your substance use – this may include giving “revised” or played down versions of your sessions (again, denial, lying, and secretiveness are some of the weapons of addiction).

15) Do you ever drink alone – this would be at odds that you are only a social drinker, or that you do this only to relax in front of others (isolation and feeling apart from others is another sign of addiction).

16) Have you ever switched from one substance or drink to another in an effort to tell yourself that you can stop using that particular substance or drink.

17) And finally, has your life become more out of control and chaotic (this may include run-ins with the law, misconduct or poor performance at work, poor money management, spending, troubled relationships, or accidents) – do you constantly live with a sense of desperation, anger, or hopelessness? While it may be easy to blame your substance use on any external problems or factors, the truth is that they are not the cause of an addiction

If you have answered “yes” to ANY of these questions you may need to address the fact that you have a substance abuse issue and need to seek treatment (counseling, rehabilitation, even talking with a close friend, pastor, or relative) to deal with this problem.

If you are afraid of change and/or can not see a life beyond constant misery - please do not wait to seek treatment right away.