Self Assessments
The following link(s) can help you self assess your current drinking patterns and offer some feedback:
Additional Self Assessment Questionnaire
Harmful consequences are unwanted, negative complications resulting from use. Listed below are some typical examples. Check yes to the questions that are true for you or have ever been true for you to help you critically examine your drinking.
Social Self
Social self is defined as the way one relates to others and the ability to feel comfortable with other people. Initially and for sometime afterward alcohol may seem to enhance certain experiences. People may seem more accepting or less judgmental, and you might experience “fitting in.” You may convince yourself that experiences are more enjoyable and conversation more relaxed. These beliefs can help rationalize the negative experiences that might also occur.
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| 1. My girlfriend/boyfriend has expressed concern about my use. | ____ | ____ |
| 2. I have changed friends to be with people who use like I do. | ____ | ____ |
| 3. My friends have sometimes called me a “drunk.” | ____ | ____ |
| 4. I have argued with friends about my use. | ____ | ____ |
| 5.I have done things to my friends while drinking that I have regretted later. | ____ | ____ |
| 6. I have made plans with friends, but didn’t show because a “better” opportunity to drink came up. | ____ | ____ |
| 7. I have lied to friends/others about how much I drink. | ____ | ____ |
| 8. I have upset or lost friends because of my drinking. | ____ | ____ |
| 9. Some of my friends have avoided me since I started drinking more. | ____ | ____ |
| 10. If I had a choice between being with my straight friends or drinking friends I would choose the drinking friends. | ____ | ____ |
| 11. I have endangered the lives of my friends through my use (driving while drinking, taking foolish risks). | ____ | ____ |
| 12. Being under the influence makes me feel less shy. | ____ | ____ |
School
In the beginning stages of drinking, the experience and effect can be subtle on school work. However with increased frequency and amount drinking, concentration, motivation and memory can be effected.
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| 1. I have a reputation for being a partier. | ____ | ____ |
| 2. I have come close or have gotten caught under the influence. | ____ | ____ |
| 3.I have skipped or missed class because of using or being hung-over. | ____ | ____ |
| 4. My grades are not what I expect them to be. | ____ | ____ |
| 5. My motivation for school work has been declining. | ____ | ____ |
| 6. I skip class more often since I have been drinking. | ____ | ____ |
| 7. I can’t concentrate on classes as well since I started drinking more often. | ____ | ____ |
| 8. The university has asked that I have an evaluation. | ____ | ____ |
Family
Families often do not know what is going on but they begin to mention changes they are noticing. You may tell yourself that nothing is different and your family is just being paranoid or picking on you. Denial of these changes can negatively affect family members and family life.
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Parents have asked if anything is going on due to my mood. | ____ | ____ |
| 2. Parents have asked me if I was on anything or if I am drinking too much. | ____ | ____ |
| 3. Parents have found my alcohol. | ____ | ____ |
| 4. Parent/friends have waited up to see what I was like when I got home. | ____ | ____ |
| 5. Trust with my parents has changed. | ____ | ____ |
| 6. My siblings have expressed concern or seen changes in me. | ____ | ____ |
| 7. I find it harder to talk to my family since I have been drinking more. | ____ | ____ |
| 8. I avoid family functions because I want to get drunk or have been drunk at family functions. | ____ | ____ |
| 9. I isolate myself more from my family. | ____ | ____ |
| 10. I have lied to my family about my drinking. | ____ | ____ |
Financial
Money can become an issue with the need to support drinking or other use. Stress about money can become an issue in taking care of personal needs and appearance as it might be spent on use in place of basic necessities.
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Many times I am broke because I use too much money for alcohol. | ____ | ____ |
| 2. I owe people money for alcohol. | ____ | ____ |
| 3. I have stolen or sold things to support my drinking. | ____ | ____ |
| 4. I have put off buying things I need to use the money for alcohol. | ____ | ____ |
| 5. I have gambled to get money for alcohol. | ____ | ____ |
| 6. Most of my money goes for or I have begun to spend more money on alcohol. | ____ | ____ |
| 7. I have done things I am ashamed of in order to get money for drinking. | ____ | ____ |
Legal
Though you may not have experienced any legal problems resulting from your drinking, you may have had some close calls. Legal consequences often affect future opportunities such as employment, admittance to academic programs, or going abroad.
|.Question|.Yes|.No|
|1. I have done risky or foolish things I could get arrested for while under the influence.|_||
|2. I have gotten in a fight and come close to or been arrested while I have been under the influence.|||
|3. I have been fined by the courts for alcohol use.|||
|4. I have had legal problems related to my drinking.||__|
Personal
Effects of alcohol can influence your life in many ways, ways in which you are afraid to maybe admit to yourself, let alone anyone else. You may not always recognize them until somebody else points it out. Even with awareness, denial can play a role in finding other excuses for things that happened or blame placed on others.
| |_.Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| 1. I have done things I am ashamed of while under the influence. | ____ | ____ |
| 2. I have given up interest, sports, hobbies, and other events I used to do for fun. | ____ | ____ |
| 3. I have had blackouts or memory loss while drinking. | ____ | ____ |
| 4. My memory is not as good as it was before drinking. | ____ | ____ |
| 5. I get anxious and sometimes preoccupied about drinking. | ____ | ____ |
| 6. When I am not drinking I think about and look forward to when I can drink. | ____ | ____ |
| 7. I don’t seem to care about things I used to as much. | ____ | ____ |
| 8. My goals have changed since I have been drinking, it is hard to set new goals. | ____ | ____ |
| 9. I have hurt myself physically when under the influence (UPI’s unidentified party injuries) . | ____ | ____ |
| 10. I find it harder to talk to friends/other people when I am not under the influence. | ____ | ____ |
| 11. I have done things while under the influence that when I thought about them later,it really scared me. | ____ | ____ |
| 12. have overdosed on alcohol by passing out. | ____ | ____ |
| 13. I have had to go to the hospital because of being injured while under the influence. | ____ | ____ |
| 14. I have had suicidal thoughts since I have been drinking. | ____ | ____ |
| 15. I have seriously thought of suicide. | ____ | ____ |
| 16. I have tried to cut down on use because I have worried about what it may be doing to me. | ____ | ____ |
| 17. I have tried unsuccessfully to quit in the past and question if I can do it successfully. | ____ | ____ |
| 18. I have done things that I am ashamed of in order to get alcohol. | ____ | ____ |
| 19. I have found myself hooking up more when under the influence. | ____ | ____ |
| 20. I have gained weight since coming to college and drinking regularly. | ____ | ____ |
Hopefully this self assessment has helped you to evaluate your use and make decisions that will best work toward your success as a student, a leader within your community and family member. The site provides self-help tips and strategies that can aide in quitting and also what to expect should you decide to quit.