Alcohol and drugs
Substance use check
11+ questions · 5 min
This check was created by the World Health Organization to help people and health workers talk openly about tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. It asks which ones you’ve ever used, and for each one, how often you’ve used it lately and whether it has caused urges, problems or worry.
You get a separate risk level for each one you’ve used. Your answers are private, and the result is a starting point for thinking about your health, not a judgement.
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What it shows
Whether your use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs may be putting your health at risk.
What it doesn’t
A diagnosis of addiction. Only a professional can assess that.
Who it’s for
This check is for anyone who uses, or has used, tobacco, alcohol or other drugs and wants an honest picture of whether it might be affecting their health. It covers everything in one place, so it suits people who use more than one substance, including medicines taken for other reasons or in larger amounts than prescribed.
It can be a good first step before talking to a doctor or a drug and alcohol service, or a way to see how things change over a few months.
Questions people ask
What does the ASSIST cover?
It asks about tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, stimulants like speed or ecstasy, inhaled substances, sleeping or calming pills, hallucinogens, opioids and other drugs. For each one you’ve used, it asks how often you’ve used it in the past three months and whether it has caused urges, problems or worry.
How long does it take?
About 5 minutes. Most questions only appear for substances you’ve used, so it’s shorter if you’ve used fewer.
How is the ASSIST scored?
Each substance gets its own score and risk level: low, moderate or high. For alcohol, 0 to 10 is low risk, 11 to 26 moderate and 27 or more high. For tobacco and other drugs, 0 to 3 is low risk, 4 to 26 moderate and 27 or more high.
Is this a diagnosis?
No. It isn’t a diagnosis of addiction, and only a professional can assess that. The result is a starting point for thinking about your health, not a judgement.
What should I do if a risk level is moderate or high?
A doctor or a local drug and alcohol service can help, in confidence and without judgement. Taking the check again in about three months can show whether things are changing.
What if I’m struggling right now?
If you might hurt yourself, call your local emergency number now. You can find free, confidential helplines in your country at findahelpline.com.
Where it comes from
Developed by the World Health Organization with researchers from several countries, starting in 1997.
Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test
On iPhone or iPad?
Sprout is an app there too, and this link opens the test straight away if you have it.
Coming soon to the App Store