Do You Drink Too Much? Find Out With Anonymous Alcohol Use Self-Assessment

DETROIT (WWJ) - A nationwide campaign is underway to expose a hidden problem affecting millions of Americans. During the month of April nearly a thousand community-based organizations, colleges and military installations will offer free, anonymous alcohol screenings as part of Alcohol Awareness Month.

The screenings, available both in-person and online at www.HowDoYouScore.org, help individuals understand the difference between moderate alcohol use, dangerous drinking and alcohol abuse, as well as provide treatment resources, when necessary.

Many people who drink do so without harmful or hazardous effects, but some people have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol or suffer negative consequences as a result of their drinking habits. There are many rungs on the ladder from sobriety to alcoholism. Furthermore, these problems often go unrecognized by the individual and unseen by those around them. And yet the consequences can still be devastating.

The goal of this program is to get individuals to think about how, when and why they drink. Not everyone who scores positive on the assessment requires treatment, but research shows that screening can be a useful tool in getting people to rethink their drinking habits.

Dr. Douglas Jacobs, founder of Screening for Mental Health, said while the screenings don't constitute a formal diagnosis, they give people a good indication of whether they should seek further help.

For more information and to take the self-assessment test, visit www.HowDoYouScore.org.