Am I an Addict? A Self-Assessment Based on the 11 Clinical Criteria

What a Clinician Actually Assesses

A formal assessment works through eleven specific criteria over a twelve-month period: using more or longer than intended, wanting to cut down without it holding, time spent getting or recovering from it, cravings, problems at work or home, continuing despite conflict with people, giving up other activities, using in risky situations, continuing despite health effects, needing more for the same effect, and withdrawal.

Two of those is enough to meet the threshold for a mild substance use disorder. That surprises people, and it means plenty of people who would never use the word addict would meet the clinical definition.

Severity is not a verdict either. It describes where things are now, not where they are going, and milder cases respond to less intensive treatment. Catching it early is considerably better than catching it late.

What Happens If You Call

People avoid calling because they imagine being talked into something. Here is the actual sequence.

You describe what has been going on. Admissions verifies your insurance and tells you what it would cost, before any treatment is discussed. A clinician does an assessment, usually the same day or the next, and recommends a level of care based on what you describe rather than on what is convenient.

If outpatient is not right for you, we say so and point you elsewhere. If you need withdrawal management first, that happens through our sister program in the same building. And if you decide not to do anything, that is a legitimate outcome of a phone call.

Treatment records are protected under HIPAA and under 42 CFR Part 2, a stricter federal rule specific to substance use treatment. Your employer does not find out because you called.