Drinking alcohol in moderation is a normal part of many cultures.
Alcohol is part of traditional ceremonies, celebrations, and social events, and drinking alcohol in moderation is not usually something to worry about.
However, your relationship with alcohol can become unhealthy. This can happen suddenly in response to a certain event or gradually over time.
Often, someone who abuses alcohol is not well placed to notice that their behavior has gotten out of control.
If you are worried about the amount you drink, the way you drink, or the effects of your drinking, you can take a simple test to assess your drinking habits. You can then approach a medical or addiction professional with the test results for a formal diagnosis or discussion of the next steps.
The World Health Organization developed the following Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to determine if a person’s alcohol consumption may be harmful.
Questions 1–3 ask about your alcohol consumption, 4–6 are about alcohol dependence, and 7–10 consider problems that relate to alcohol.
A score of more than eight for a man, or more than seven for a woman, suggests that you may consume alcohol harmfully or dangerously. If you score more than twenty, you may have an alcohol dependence problem and require specialized treatment.
If you score higher than seven or eight, please contact us at Cirque Lodge. One of our medical professionals can discuss your alcohol use and talk about the next steps.
We treat all clients with compassion and without judgment, and your privacy is our highest priority.
The following 10 questions are about your use of alcohol during the past 12 months.
In questions 2 and 3, one drink means 10 grams of pure alcohol.
For example:
Healthy drinking usually involves having one or two drinks at a social or sports event and stopping drinking at some point in the evening. You choose to have a drink because you want to – your drinking is within your control.
If you are struggling with an alcohol use disorder (AUD), you do not have control over your drinking. Addiction causes you to seek alcohol compulsively, even when it damages your physical and mental health.
Alcohol misuse can take over your life. If you are addicted to alcohol, you often devote most of your time to obtaining alcohol, using alcohol, and recovering from heavy drinking.
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism interfere with your work and home life. You may arrive at your job late or miss days from work because you are hungover. You may neglect your usual responsibilities at home and drink instead.
Alcohol misuse is associated with high costs to employers, including missed workdays, decreased productivity, turnover, health problems, and accidents.
Drinking alcohol can damage short-term and long-term memory. A heavy drinking session can cause memory lapses and make it difficult or impossible to recall recent events. Long-term alcohol use can lead to permanent neurological conditions such as Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome.
Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short time severely impairs your coordination and judgment. You are more likely to have a serious or even fatal accident, including falls, burns, drownings, and car accidents. You are also more likely to behave violently and injure others.
TOTAL: /40
If your score is more than 8 for a man or more than 7 for a woman, you are likely to be using alcohol harmfully. While you may not need to attend a treatment program, it is a good idea to discuss your alcohol problem with a professional.
You can contact us at Cirque Lodge 24-hours a day for professional medical advice and support. We can discuss your test results, your alcohol habits and guide you through the next steps.
If you are struggling with an alcohol use disorder, long-term treatment is usually necessary to help you overcome your addiction. Effective addiction treatment provides individualized programs that aim to treat the entire person. It focuses on the underlying causes of your addiction to help you rebuild yourself and live a productive and joyful sober life.
At Cirque Lodge, we offer a combination of evidence-based treatment approaches adapted to suit your needs. We provide a holistic healing experience to help you overcome the causes of your addiction and rediscover your love of life. Surrounded by the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, our luxury facilities are the perfect place to reconnect with your inner self and find inspiration for the journey ahead.
Recovering from alcoholism is not easy, but with the right support, it is possible for anyone. At Cirque Lodge, we offer the highest level of care and clinical excellence to guide you to lifelong recovery.