Sometimes it can be hard to identify how much alcohol controls your life. You can use a simple questionnaire to help you determine your level of alcohol dependence, called the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ).
The SADQ asks you to recall a typical period of heavy drinking in the past 6 months. It then has a series of statements and asks you to identify how often that statement applies to you: almost never, sometimes, often, nearly always.
There are 20 statements and the responses are scored on a scale of 0-60. Depending on the score, different approaches are required to help you manage your alcohol dependence safely. A score of 16 or above indicates that you will likely need a medicated detox program. AIR Detox can provide a safe, evidence-based in-home withdrawal service and aftercare plan to support you. Please see our Alcohol Detox Service page for more information, or contact our friendly team today.
We have created a SADQ template that can be downloaded below, with the recommended approach for each interpretation.
If you have completed the SADQ and are concerned about your score, please make an appointment with your GP or call us for further advice.
Published: 13 June 2024
