How to know if you need help

Chemical Dependency is a problem that is often denied by those who need help the most. Below is a screening tool used by Lighthouse to help determine if one needs to seek treatment.

TWEAKES
(Screening for Alcohol and Drug Use)

Answer YES or NO to each question. The scoring ledger is at the bottom of the questions.

T= Tolerance: ____
Does it take more alcohol or drugs to get you high than it did in the past? Or, does it now take less amounts to get you high than in the past?

W= Worried: ____
Have close friends or relatives worried or complained about your drinking or use of drugs in the past?

E= Eye Opener: ____
Do you sometimes take a drink or use drugs when you get up or to get you “jump started”?

A= Amnesia: ____
Has a friend or family member ever told you about things you said or did while you were drinking/using drugs that you could not remember?

K©= Cutting Down Attempts: ____
Do you sometimes feel the need to cut down or stop your drinking or using drugs?

E= Efforts to Obtain: ____
Do you spend a great deal of time obtaining the substance, using it, or recovering from its effects?

S= Social, Occupational, or Recreational: ____
Have you given up or reduced important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of your use of alcohol or drugs?

TOTAL SCORE: ____

SCORING:

Each question answered YES is scored one point. No points are awarded for NO responses.
Total the number of YES responses.
The general population of substance users who score at least three points are given an appointment for an assessment
Pregnant women, those who state they have a mental illness, and adolescents who score at least two points are also given an appointment for an assessment.
All others are referred to AA or NA.

(Adapted from: Chan, A.K.; Pristach, E.A.; Welte, J.W.; and Russell, M. 1993. The TWEAK test in screening for alcoholism/heavy drinking in three populations. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 6:1188-1192.)