Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is an internationally validated screening instrument designed to identify individuals with hazardous…

Questions: 10
Duration: 3 min
Original title: AUDIT — Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
Adaptation: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
Authors: Saunders, J.B., Aasland, O.G., Babor, T.F., de la Fuente, J.R., & Grant, M.
Created: 1993

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is an internationally validated screening instrument designed to identify individuals with hazardous and harmful patterns of alcohol consumption. Developed by the World Health Organization, it serves as a cornerstone measure in both primary care and specialized mental health settings, offering a reliable and brief assessment of a patient's relationship with alcohol.

Unlike simpler screening tools that only detect the presence of an issue, the AUDIT stratifies alcohol use across distinct severity zones. It captures the frequency and quantity of consumption, signs of physical dependence, and the direct psychosocial consequences of drinking. This nuanced profile allows clinicians to distinguish between low risk use, hazardous drinking that requires brief advice, and potential dependence warranting specialized treatment.

By integrating this repeatable measure into standard clinical practice, professionals can establish an objective baseline, track changes in drinking behavior over time, and facilitate collaborative and non-judgmental discussions about risk reduction. It frequently supports the unmasking of deep seated patterns, laying the groundwork for dismantling automatic behaviors tied to substance use.

Example result

Fictitious result, computed from a sample set of answers.

Overall score

17/ 40

The AUDIT is a 10-item screening questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to identify hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption and dependence in adults. It assesses three domains: alcohol consumption (items 1 to 3), dependence symptoms (items 4 to 6), and alcohol-related problems (items 7 to 10). The questions primarily refer to the past 12 months.

0–7

Low Risk

8–15

Hazardous

16–19

Harmful

20–40

High Risk

indicates a significant risk associated with alcohol consumption that could lead to serious health issues.

Scoring

Sum, total score from 0 to 40, response option scoring varies by item (see individual questions).

Dependence symptoms

7/ 12

Evaluates the presence and severity of symptoms indicating alcohol addiction.

items 4, 5, 6

0–3

Threshold not met

4–12

alcohol dependency

Indicates that the client may have alcohol dependency.

Alcohol-related consequences

7/ 16

Measures the extent of social or behavioral issues stemming from alcohol use.

items 7, 8, 9, 10

016

Alcohol consumption (hazardous)

3/ 12

AUDIT-C, a derivative consumption questionnaire based on the first three items of the AUDIT.

items 1, 2, 3

012

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What the test measures

The AUDIT captures a comprehensive picture of a patient's alcohol consumption and its immediate clinical impact. It maps three distinct yet interrelated dimensions of substance use to quantify overall risk.

Hazardous Consumption: Measures the frequency and volume of alcohol intake, including the prevalence of heavy episodic or binge drinking.
Dependence Symptoms: Evaluates signs of impaired control, such as the inability to stop drinking once started and the physiological need for morning symptom relief.
Harmful Consequences: Assesses the negative psychosocial and physical outcomes of drinking, including role failure, memory loss, injuries, and external concern from others.

This instrument is designed for use with adult populations across medical and psychological care settings.

When and why to use it

Clinicians utilize the AUDIT to systematically evaluate alcohol use and tailor the intensity of their interventions to the patient's specific risk profile. It is commonly deployed during intake or when substance use emerges as a clinical concern.

Baseline Intake Assessment: To establish an objective record of drinking behavior before developing an intervention plan or exploring long-term goals.
Stepped Care Triage: To determine the appropriate level of care, distinguishing patients who need brief harm reduction advice from those requiring intensive dependence treatment.
Monitoring Progress: To track reductions in alcohol consumption and harm during treatment, often alongside a weekly behavioral review.
Exploring Ambivalence: To provide objective feedback that helps in building discrepancy when a patient is unsure about modifying their drinking.
Evaluating Coping Mechanisms: To clarify whether alcohol is functioning as a primary means of distress tolerance, prompting the need for more adaptive coping strategies.

Relying on a validated score ensures that clinicians identify subtle patterns of hazardous use that might be minimized or overlooked during a standard unstructured interview.

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The questions

The following questions relate to your alcohol consumption during the past 12 months. A standard drink corresponds to approximately 10 g of pure alcohol (a glass of wine, a half-pint of beer, a measure of spirits). Please choose the answer that best corresponds to your situation.
1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
Assesses the baseline frequency of the patient's alcohol consumption to establish a generalized pattern of exposure.
- Never
- Monthly or less
- 2 to 4 times a month
- 2 to 3 times a week
- 4 or more times a week
2. How many standard drinks do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?
Estimates the standard volume consumed on active drinking days, providing insight into the typical alcohol load per session.
- 1 or 2
- 3 or 4
- 5 or 6
- 7 to 9
- 10 or more
3. How often do you have six or more standard drinks on one occasion?
Identifies the frequency of binge drinking episodes, a primary marker for acute intoxication risks.
- Never
- Less than monthly
- Monthly
- Weekly
- Daily or almost daily
4. Over the last 12 months, how often have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?
Probes for the subjective loss of control over consumption, a core clinical indicator of dependence.
- Never
- Less than monthly
- Monthly
- Weekly
- Daily or almost daily
5. Over the last 12 months, how often has your drinking prevented you from doing what was normally expected of you?
Evaluates the degree to which drinking impairs role functioning and disrupts daily responsibilities.
- Never
- Less than monthly
- Monthly
- Weekly
- Daily or almost daily
6. Over the last 12 months, how often have you needed a drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
Screens for early morning withdrawal relief drinking, a significant physiological marker of dependence.
- Never
- Less than monthly
- Monthly
- Weekly
- Daily or almost daily
7. Over the last 12 months, how often have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?
Explores the psychological aftermath of drinking, specifically capturing post-intoxication distress and self-evaluative concern.
- Never
- Less than monthly
- Monthly
- Weekly
- Daily or almost daily
8. Over the last 12 months, how often have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?
Assesses the presence of alcohol-induced amnesia or blackouts, indicating central nervous system toxicity.
- Never
- Less than monthly
- Monthly
- Weekly
- Daily or almost daily
9. Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?
Identifies direct physical harm to the patient or others resulting from their intoxication.
- No
- Yes, but not in the past year
- Yes, during the past year
10. Has a relative, friend, doctor, or other health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?
Captures the external systemic impact of the patient's drinking through the expressed concern of their social or medical network.
- No
- Yes, but not in the past year
- Yes, during the past year