AM I AN ADDICT? Only you can answer this question.
This
may not be an easy thing to do. All through our usage, we
told ourselves, "I can handle it." Even if this
was true in the beginning, it is not so now. The drugs handled
us. We lived to use and used to live. Very simply, an addict
is a person whose life is controlled by drugs.
Perhaps you admit you have a
problem with drugs, but you don't consider yourself an addict.
All of us have preconceived ideas about what an addict is.
There is nothing shameful about being an addict once you begin
to take positive action. If you can identify with our problems,
you may be able to identify with our solution.
The following
questions were written by recovering addicts in Narcotics
Anonymous. If you have doubts about whether or not you're
an addict, take a few moments to read the questions below
and answer them as honestly as you can.
Do you ever use alone?
Yes
No
Have you ever substituted
one drug for another, thinking that one particular drug was
the problem?
Yes
No
Have you ever manipulated
or lied to a doctor to obtain prescription drugs?
Yes
No
Have you ever stolen drugs
or stolen to obtain drugs?
Yes
No
Do you regularly use a drug
when you wake up or when you go to bed?
Yes
No
Have you ever taken one
drug to overcome the effects of another?
Yes
No
Do you avoid people or places
that do no approve of you using drugs?
Yes
No
Have you ever used a drug
without knowing what it was or what it would do to you?
Yes
No
Has your job or school performance
ever suffered from the effects of your drug use?
Yes
No
Have you ever been arrested
as a result of using drugs?
Yes
No
Have you ever lied about
what or how much you use?
Yes
No
Do you put the purchase
of drugs ahead of your financial responsibilities?
Yes
No
Have you ever tried to stop
or control your using?
Yes
No
Have you ever been in a
jail, hospital, or drug rehabilitation center because of your
using?
Yes
No
Does using interfere with
your sleeping or eating?
Yes
No
Does the thought of running
out of drugs terrify you?
Yes
No
Do you feel it is impossible
for you to live without drugs?
Yes
No
Do you ever question your
own sanity?
Yes
No
Is your drug use making
life at home unhappy?
Yes
No
Have you ever thought you
couldn't fit in or have a good time without drugs?
Yes
No
Have you ever felt defensive,
guilty, or ashamed about your using?
Yes
No
Do you think a lot about
drugs?
Yes
No
Have you had irrational
or indefinable fears?
Yes
No
Has using affected your
sexual relationships?
Yes
No
Have you ever taken drugs
you didn't prefer?
Yes
No
Have you ever used drugs
because of emotional pain or stress?
Yes
No
Have you ever overdosed
on any drugs?
Yes
No
Do you continue to use despite
negative consequences?
