DSM IV CRITERIA FOR SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE

(Manifested by 3 or more in the same12-month period)


(Indicators of Physical Dependence)

1. Tolerance

– Do you need more of the substance to get high or achieve the effect it used to? (I.e. more alcohol is needed to get drunk)


2. Withdrawal

- Do you suffer from characteristic withdrawal symptoms?

(i.e. Shakes / Sweats)

- Do you use the same substance (or one closely related to it) to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms?

(i.e. "Hair of the dog")

3. Have you drank / used the substance in larger amounts or over a longer period than you intended to?

 

 

4. Have you wanted to cut down or stop for long time now or tried to do so unsuccessfully several times?


5. Time Commitment

- Do you spend a lot of your time using the substance (drinking) or recovering from its effects?

- Do you spend a lot of time in activities trying to obtain the substance?

 

6. Have you given up or reduced important social, occupational or recreational activities because of your drinking / substance use?

 


7. Have you continued to use the substance, despite knowing that you have a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or made worse by your alcohol or substance use?