Do I have a Drug Problem?

Everyone will have their own picture of what a drug abuser is, someone injecting or shooting up heroin, a pot-head and although this may represent an idea of drug abuse most do not conform to this stereotype. A drug problem can affect anyone and there are many drugs, both legal (for example tranquillisers and sleeping tablets etc.) and illegal (cocaine, cannabis etc.) that people can become addicted to. Below is a questionnaire that may help you to see if you may have a drug problem.

Questionnaire :

1.

Have you ever used a drug to escape from life's problems?

2.

Has taking drugs ever effectively changed your mood?

3.

Has the quantity of drugs or frequency of using increased over the past year or two?

4.

Has the effect of the substance decreased over the last year or two so that you have to take larger amounts to achieve a desired effect?

5.

Has your drug taking ever caused upset in your family or way of life?

6.

Do other non using people ever say that your drug taking is a problem or out of control?

7.

Have you ever found that you use a larger quantity of drugs than you initially set out to take?

8.

Have you ever found that you are powerless to stop using drugs once you have started?

9.

Do you feel you 'belong' to the human race more when you are using?

10.

Have you ever suffered emotional consequences after using; such as guilt, shame, remorse, self loathing or a sense of hopelessness?

11.

Have you ever used drugs in order to relieve these feelings?

12.

Have you ever tried to stop using for any length of time?

13.

Have you ever considered ending your life because of your drug habit?

14.

Have you ever continued to use even when your partner has threatened to leave if you continue using?

15.

Have you ever considered or attended a meeting of Narcotics Anonymous or similar?

16.

Have you ever used these substances to boost your self confidence?

17.

Have you ever used these substances to help you cope with problems?

18.

Have you ever felt more at ease around other people when using drugs?

19.

Have you ever thought you have a problem with drugs?

20.

Have you lost friends since you started using drugs?

21.

Have you ever been in trouble with the police due to your drug using?

22.

Have you ever borrowed money, or stolen in order to buy drugs?

23.

Has anyone in your family ever had a drug problem?

24.

Does a life without drugs seem boring, that life will no longer be fun?

25.

Have you ever set a goal to stop or reduce your drug use?

26.

Do you ever have regrets about how you behaved under the influence?

27.

Have you ever had problems remembering what you did, or wonder how you got home?

28.

Have you ever regretted having sex with someone due to your drug use?

29.

Have you ever had unprotected sex as a result of being high?

30.

Have you ever made excuses for getting out of control?

31.

Is your capability in life ever affected by your drug use?

32.

Have you ever regretted spending money on alcohol or drugs after you have already spent it?

33.

Have you ever woken in the morning with regret and shame and feeling of disgust over your behaviour?

34.

Do you ever feel useless or hopeless?

35.

Have people ever annoyed you by commenting on or criticising your using?

36.

Have you ever felt guilty or uncomfortable about your drug use?

37.

Has your social life ever revolved around drug taking and neglected other interests or social activities to allow time for drug use?

The questions above will help you decide whether it would be useful to seek further advice. If you find that you answer yes to more than three or four questions then there are definite indications of drug abuse problem.

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