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Alcohol use disorder checklist

The 11 signs in the DSM-5, the manual US clinicians use to diagnose alcohol use disorder, in plain words. Tick the ones that were true for you in the past year.

In the past 12 months, have you…

Signs you checked

0 of 11

Fewer than 2 signs

Alcohol use disorder needs at least 2 of these in the same year, so your answers don't point to it. Only a clinician can diagnose it, but this is the list they use.

Nothing you check here is sent or saved.

How it's counted

Two or more of these signs in the same year means alcohol use disorder. Two or three is mild, four or five is moderate, and six or more is severe.1 The wording above is ours, based on the plain-language questions the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) publishes.

If you have withdrawal symptoms

About half of people with alcohol use disorder get some withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking, and a small share need medical detox.2 If you drink heavily every day, get medical advice before you stop. Naltrexone doesn't treat withdrawal; see naltrexone for alcohol use disorder for what it does do.

Frequently asked questions

How many symptoms do you need for alcohol use disorder?

At least 2 of the 11 in the same 12 months. 2 or 3 is mild, 4 or 5 is moderate, and 6 or more is severe.1

What changed from DSM-IV to DSM-5?

DSM-IV had two separate diagnoses, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. DSM-5 combined them into one, alcohol use disorder, dropped legal problems as a criterion, and added craving.1

Can I diagnose myself with this checklist?

No. It uses the same criteria a clinician would, but a diagnosis also takes a conversation about your history and health. Use your count as a starting point for that conversation.

Related guides

Crisis and emergency contacts

  • Emergency: call 911 or your local emergency number.
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 — free, confidential, 24/7 (988lifeline.org).
  • SAMHSA's National Helpline: free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information, in English and Spanish — 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (samhsa.gov).
  • Stopping drinking: after frequent drinking, stopping can cause alcohol withdrawal, which can become life-threatening. Talk to a clinician before you stop (MedlinePlus).

References

2 sources, numbered in the order they are first cited (AMA style). Each is labelled by type so you can weigh it; commercial and media sources are never the only support for a clinical claim.

  1. 1.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol use disorder: a comparison between DSM–IV and DSM–5. Updated April 2021. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-use-disorder-comparison-between-dsmGovernment source
  2. 2.Recommend evidence-based treatment: know the options. In: Core Resource on Alcohol. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Revised May 8, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/health-professionals-communities/core-resource-on-alcohol/recommend-evidence-based-treatment-know-optionsGovernment source

Medical disclaimer

This page is for information only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Don't start, stop, or change any medicine — including naltrexone — without your prescriber. Naltrexone must not be used by people taking opioid pain medicines, people dependent on opioids, or people in opioid withdrawal (FDA label). In an emergency call 911; for crisis support call or text 988. Full medical disclaimer.