Addiction Self-Assessment: Four Honest Screens, Five Private Minutes
These four free self-assessment tools — alcohol (AUDIT-C based), smoking (Fagerström-style), pornography/compulsive sexual behaviour, and family screen time — give you a scored, evidence-informed snapshot of where use ends and dependence begins. No test here diagnoses you; each tells you which next step fits: self-help, the MindTalk app, an OPD consultation, or the 24/7 helpline 96111 94949.
Nobody wakes up one morning addicted. There is a long, deniable middle — "I can stop whenever I want" — and the entire value of a screening tool is that it measures the middle honestly, in private, before consequences do it for you. Answer for yourself, or answer about someone you're worried for (our caregiver guide picks up from there).
How to use this page: each quiz below is fully specified — questions, scoring, and what each band means. Answer honestly; scores only work on true inputs. Every result band ends in a next step, never a verdict.
Quiz 1 — Alcohol: The AUDIT-C Screen
Three questions, adapted from the WHO's AUDIT-C, the most validated brief alcohol screen in the world. One standard drink ≈ 30 ml spirits, 100 ml wine, or 250 ml beer.
Q1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol? Never (0) · Monthly or less (1) · 2–4 times a month (2) · 2–3 times a week (3) · 4 or more times a week (4)
Q2. How many standard drinks do you have on a typical day when you are drinking? 1–2 (0) · 3–4 (1) · 5–6 (2) · 7–9 (3) · 10 or more (4)
Q3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion? Never (0) · Less than monthly (1) · Monthly (2) · Weekly (3) · Daily or almost daily (4)
Scoring: add the three answers. Range 0–12.
| Band | What your score means | Your next step |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 · Lower-risk pattern | Your reported pattern sits in the lower-risk zone. This is not a medical all-clear — risk rises with any regular use, and this screen can't see liver values or family history — but nothing here signals dependence. | Stay informed: how to quit alcohol covers the benefits timeline if you're considering cutting down. Re-screen if your pattern changes. |
| 4–7 · Risky pattern — worth acting on | Your drinking pattern is above the low-risk threshold. This is the zone where habits harden into dependence — often without withdrawal symptoms yet. It is not a diagnosis; it is an early, correctable warning. | Read alcohol addiction to locate yourself on the dependence spectrum, then consider a single OPD consultation to plan a structured cut-down. Or talk it through: 96111 94949. |
| 8–12 · High-risk pattern — get assessed | Scores here frequently accompany dependence. If you drink daily, drink in the mornings, or have felt shaky or sweaty when stopping — do not stop abruptly on your own; withdrawal can be medically dangerous and may need a supervised 5–7 day detox. | Book a psychiatric assessment (OPD) this week, or call 96111 94949 (24/7) — assessment first, then the right programme, from outpatient care to structured residential treatment. |
Am I an Alcoholic — or Just a Casual Drinker?
The most honest answer: "alcoholic" is a label; dependence is a diagnosis, and it has markers you can check tonight. A casual drinker can take alcohol or leave it — no guilt, no morning drinking, no failed promises to cut down. Warning markers that the line is moving: drinking more than intended, needing more for the same effect (tolerance), irritability when a drinking occasion is cancelled, hiding quantities, and any physical symptom on stopping. Score 8+ above, or recognise three or more of those markers, and the question has outgrown a quiz — a clinical assessment settles it properly, and earlier is always easier.
Quiz 2 — Smoking: Nicotine Dependence Check
Six items, Fagerström-style — the standard clinical measure of physical nicotine dependence.
Q1. How soon after waking do you smoke your first cigarette (or use tobacco)? Within 5 minutes (3) · 6–30 minutes (2) · 31–60 minutes (1) · After 60 minutes (0)
Q2. Do you find it difficult not to smoke in places where it is forbidden (temple, cinema, flight, office)? Yes (1) · No (0)
Q3. Which cigarette would you hate most to give up? The first one in the morning (1) · Any other (0)
Q4. How many cigarettes do you smoke per day? 10 or fewer (0) · 11–20 (1) · 21–30 (2) · 31 or more (3)
Q5. Do you smoke more frequently in the first hours after waking than during the rest of the day? Yes (1) · No (0)
Q6. Do you smoke even when you are ill enough to be in bed most of the day? Yes (1) · No (0)
Scoring: add all items. Range 0–10.
| Band | What your score means | Your next step |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 · Low dependence | Your body's nicotine dependence is currently low — habit and routine are doing most of the work. This is the easiest point you will ever quit from. | Start the free MindTalk 30-Day Smoking De-addiction Journey — assessment-first, 5–10 minutes of daily micro-tasks, self-paced. (Confirmed asset — link live.) |
| 3–5 · Moderate dependence | Physical dependence is established. Quitting cold is possible but relapse-prone without structure — cravings now have a physiological engine. | The MindTalk 30-Day Smoking Journey plus, if previous attempts failed, one OPD consultation to discuss nicotine replacement or medication support. |
| 6–7 · High dependence | The morning-cigarette pattern and smoking-while-ill answers indicate strong physical dependence. Willpower-only attempts usually fail here — not from weakness, from neurochemistry. | OPD consultation for a medically supported quit plan (nicotine replacement, prescription support, structured follow-up) alongside the MindTalk Journey. Book via 96111 94949. |
| 8–10 · Very high dependence | Scores here reflect severe dependence, often with decades of use and prior failed attempts. Structured medical treatment gives you a dramatically better chance than another solo attempt. | Psychiatric OPD assessment — and if you also scored high on alcohol above, say so; combined dependence changes the plan. Call 96111 94949. |
Quiz 3 — Pornography / Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Screen
Eight items in the style of validated CSBD screens. This is a screening aid, not a diagnosis — compulsive sexual behaviour disorder is a recognised clinical condition that only a clinician can diagnose, and frequency of porn use alone is not the criterion; loss of control and distress are.
Answer each: Never (0) · Rarely (1) · Often (2) · Very often (3)
- I have tried to reduce or stop my porn use and failed.
- I use porn for longer, or more extreme content, than I intended.
- Porn use has displaced sleep, work, study or time with people who matter.
- I use porn to escape stress, loneliness, anxiety or low mood — not for pleasure.
- I feel guilt, shame or emptiness after use, but return anyway.
- I hide the extent of my use from people close to me.
- My real-life intimacy or relationships have suffered because of my use.
- I keep using despite clear negative consequences (relationship, work, legal, financial).
Scoring: add all items. Range 0–24.
| Band | What your score means | Your next step |
|---|---|---|
| 0–7 · No compulsive pattern indicated | Your answers don't suggest loss of control. If a partner or your conscience raised the question, that conversation may matter more than this score. | Educational grounding: porn addiction — symptoms and treatment. Re-screen if the pattern changes. |
| 8–14 · Emerging compulsive pattern | The escape-use, guilt-return cycle and concealment answers suggest porn is becoming a coping mechanism with reducing control. Screens at this level warrant attention, not panic. | Read porn addiction, then consider a confidential OPD consultation with a psychologist — one session clarifies more than months of self-monitoring. |
| 15–24 · Significant compulsive pattern — seek assessment | Your answers describe the core of compulsive sexual behaviour: failed control, escalation, concealment and continued use despite harm. This is a treatable clinical pattern, not a character failure — and it frequently travels with anxiety, depression or other substance use. | Book a confidential psychiatric/psychological assessment. Call 96111 94949 — ask for a behavioural addiction consultation; it is as routine for our OPD as any other. |
Quiz 4 — Family Screen-Time Check
Eight yes/no items — answer about your child, teen, or any family member (including yourself). Screen dependence in families is usually visible long before anyone names it.
- Screen time regularly extends hours beyond agreed limits. Yes (1) / No (0)
- Taking the device away triggers rage, panic or persistent negotiation. Yes / No
- Sleep is delayed or broken by night-time device use. Yes / No
- Meals are routinely taken with a screen, or skipped for one. Yes / No
- Offline hobbies, sports or friendships have visibly shrunk. Yes / No
- School/work performance has slipped alongside rising screen hours. Yes / No
- They lie about, or hide, how much time they spend online or gaming. Yes / No
- Screen use continues despite clear consequences and repeated conflict at home. Yes / No
Scoring: count the Yes answers. Range 0–8.
| Band | What your score means | Your next step |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 · Ordinary use | Normal digital life, with friction every family recognises. Structure prevents drift: device-free meals, a charging spot outside bedrooms, agreed limits. | Self-help guidance and periodic re-checks. |
| 3–5 · Problematic pattern building | Screen use is starting to displace sleep, food, study or relationships — the classic early cluster. Household rule changes still work at this stage, especially if the whole family (adults included) adopts them. | Structured family plan; if two attempts at limits have failed, a single psychologist consultation prevents years of escalation. or call 96111 94949 for guidance. |
| 6–8 · Dependence-level pattern — get help | Rage on removal, lying, lost functioning and use-despite-consequences mirror the same loss-of-control core as substance dependence. Behavioural addictions in young people respond well to early professional intervention — and poorly to confiscation battles. | Book a child/adolescent or adult OPD assessment. Call 96111 94949 — describe the pattern; the triage team will route you to the right clinician. |
What all four tools have in common: none of them diagnoses anything. They measure loss of control — the common core of every addiction, chemical or behavioural. If any score above landed in the top band, the kindest thing you can do for yourself or your family member is convert five minutes of screening into forty-five minutes of assessment. 96111 94949 — 24/7, confidential; OPD appointments, home visits and admission guidance. Professional and student readers may also want the ICD-10 guide to substance use disorders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these addiction self-assessment tests accurate?
They are validated screens, not diagnoses. AUDIT-C and Fagerström-style tools are used in clinics worldwide precisely because a few honest questions predict risk well. What they cannot do is examine you, take a history, or rule conditions in or out — that is a clinical assessment. Treat every result as a signpost, not a verdict.
How do I know if I'm an alcoholic?
Look for loss of control rather than quantity alone: drinking more than intended, failed attempts to cut down, tolerance, hiding drinking, and any physical symptoms — shakiness, sweating, unease — when you stop. An AUDIT-C score of 8 or more, or three of those markers, means dependence is likely enough that a professional assessment is the right next step.
Can I take a test on behalf of a family member?
Yes — the screen-time check is designed for it, and the alcohol and smoking screens work as structured observation ("how often does he…"). Scores answered about someone else are rougher, but they turn vague worry into a concrete pattern you can describe to a clinician. The caregiver guide covers what to do with the result.
What happens after I call the helpline with my score?
A triage clinician (the team is led by Dr. Anita) asks about the pattern behind the number — substance, duration, previous attempts, health, home situation — and recommends a level of care: self-help resources, the MindTalk app, an OPD appointment, home-visit assessment, or admission for detox and structured treatment. The call itself commits you to nothing.
Is there a free app-based programme for quitting smoking?
Yes — the MindTalk 30-Day Smoking De-addiction Journey: free, self-paced, assessment-first, with 5–10 minute daily micro-tasks over 30 days. It suits low-to-moderate dependence scores on its own, and pairs with OPD medical support (nicotine replacement, prescription options) at higher scores.
My score was low but I'm still worried. Should I ignore it?
No. Screens measure patterns, and patterns lag reality — especially when answers get generous. Persistent worry from you or the people around you is itself clinically meaningful. Re-take the test answering as your closest family member would, and if the worry survives, book one OPD conversation. Low score plus high worry is exactly what assessment clarifies.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Anita, Consultant Clinical Psychologist / Triage Lead, on September 30, 2026. 24/7 helpline: 96111 94949.