The following self-assessment is based on the 11 DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition) criteria for Substance Use Disorder — the clinical standard used by addiction medicine professionals to diagnose and determine treatment needs. This is not a replacement for a professional clinical assessment, but it is an accurate reflection of the clinical criteria that determine whether what you are experiencing meets the threshold for a clinical substance use disorder.
⚠️ Important
This self-assessment is not a clinical diagnosis. If you score in the moderate or severe range, the most important next step is a professional clinical assessment — call 770-573-9546. Hope Harbor Wellness provides free, confidential assessments with no obligation to enter treatment.
The 11 Clinical Questions
For each question, consider your use of a specific substance over the past 12 months. Answer honestly — this assessment is for you, and no one else sees your answers unless you choose to share them.
Question 1: Have you often used the substance in larger amounts or over a longer period than you originally intended?
Question 2: Have you had a persistent desire to cut down or control your use, or made one or more unsuccessful efforts to do so?
Question 3: Do you spend a great deal of time in activities necessary to obtain, use, or recover from the effects of the substance?
Question 4: Have you experienced strong desires or urges to use the substance (craving)?
Question 5: Have you repeatedly failed to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home because of your substance use?
Question 6: Have you continued to use the substance despite persistent or recurring social or interpersonal problems caused or worsened by its effects?
Question 7: Have you given up or reduced participation in important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of your substance use?
Question 8: Have you repeatedly used the substance in situations where it is physically hazardous (for example, driving while impaired)?
Question 9: Have you continued using the substance despite knowing that it has caused or worsened a physical or psychological problem?
Question 10: Have you developed tolerance — needing markedly larger amounts of the substance to achieve the same effect, or noticing that the same amount produces markedly less effect?
Question 11: Have you experienced withdrawal symptoms when you stopped or reduced use, or have you used the substance to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms?
How to Interpret Your Score
Count the number of questions to which you answered “yes” in the past 12 months:
| Number of Criteria | Severity Classification | Clinical Implication |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | No diagnosis indicated | Does not currently meet criteria for substance use disorder. Monitor use patterns. |
| 2–3 | Mild Substance Use Disorder | Meets clinical threshold for mild SUD. Professional evaluation is appropriate. Standard outpatient or IOP typically indicated. |
| 4–5 | Moderate Substance Use Disorder | Moderate SUD with significant impairment. Professional assessment is strongly recommended. IOP or PHP typically indicated. |
| 6 or more | Severe Substance Use Disorder | Severe SUD. Clinical treatment — PHP, MAT evaluation, or higher level of care — is strongly indicated. Please call 770-573-9546 today. |
What These Questions Actually Measure
These 11 criteria assess three clinical dimensions of substance use disorder: impaired control over use (questions 1, 2, 3, 4); social impairment (questions 5, 6, 7); risky use (question 8, 9); and pharmacological indicators — tolerance and withdrawal (questions 10, 11). The DSM-5 deliberately weights these criteria equally because substance use disorder manifests differently across substances and populations. Someone with alcohol use disorder might score heavily on tolerance and withdrawal but less on social impairment. Someone with stimulant use disorder might score heavily on impaired control and risky use but show less physical tolerance.
What This Self-Assessment Cannot Tell You
This self-assessment reflects the clinical diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder — but it cannot substitute for a clinical assessment, which evaluates the specific substance or substances involved, the withdrawal risk associated with your use pattern and history, co-occurring mental health conditions, and the appropriate level of care. A clinical assessment at Hope Harbor Wellness is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to enter treatment. It gives you the specific, personalized information this self-assessment cannot provide.
If You Scored in the Moderate or Severe Range
The most important thing you can do right now is call 770-573-9546. Not to commit to anything — to get information. A 15-minute confidential call with our admissions team will tell you what a clinical assessment looks like, what level of care might be appropriate, whether your insurance covers treatment, and what the practical next steps are. You can make a fully informed decision after that call. You cannot make a fully informed decision without it.
You do not need to have reached a “rock bottom.” You do not need to have lost your job or your family or your housing. The DSM-5 criteria you just reviewed define substance use disorder as a clinical condition that warrants treatment at the mild level — 2 criteria — not only at the severe end. If you scored in the mild range and the pattern is trending upward, earlier intervention produces significantly better outcomes than waiting for severity to escalate.
Get a Free Clinical Assessment — No Obligation
Call 770-573-9546 or come to 126 Enterprise Path, Suite 208, Hiram, GA 30141. Same-day assessments frequently available. 100% confidential.
Frequently Asked Questions — Addiction Self-Assessment
Is this self-assessment a real diagnostic tool?
The 11 criteria in this assessment are the actual DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder — the same criteria clinicians use to diagnose and classify addiction. The scoring framework (mild: 2–3 criteria; moderate: 4–5; severe: 6+) directly reflects DSM-5 severity classification. What a clinical assessment adds is a trained clinician’s interpretation, context, withdrawal risk evaluation, co-occurring condition screening, and level-of-care recommendation.
I answered yes to 3 questions but still feel like I function fine — do I need treatment?
Functional impairment is not a requirement for substance use disorder diagnosis. The criteria assess a pattern of problematic use regardless of whether external functioning appears intact. Many people with moderate or severe SUD maintain jobs, relationships, and daily functioning for years — the absence of visible collapse does not mean the condition is not present or not worsening. A clinical assessment will tell you much more specifically what is appropriate for your situation. Call 770-573-9546.
What if I answered yes to only 1 criterion?
One criterion does not meet the DSM-5 threshold for substance use disorder. However, if the criterion you identified is Question 10 (tolerance — needing more to get the same effect) or Question 11 (withdrawal symptoms), those pharmacological indicators merit attention even at a subsyndromal level, because they indicate physical adaptation to a substance that will make stopping progressively harder over time.
My loved one would score in the severe range — what do I do?
Call 770-573-9546 and speak with our admissions team about family guidance options. We help families understand addiction and navigate the path toward getting someone into treatment. Read our guide to helping someone who won’t go to rehab →
