Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ)

The severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ, SAD-Q) was first published in the British Journal of Addiction.

The SADQ is sometimes used to to predict the levels of medication needed during alcohol detoxification.

The test is divided into 5 sections:

  1. Physical withdrawal symptoms
  2. Affective withdrawal symptoms
  3. Craving and relief drinking
  4. Typical daily consumption
  5. Reinstatement of dependence after a period of abstinence.

Each item is scored on a 4-point scale, giving a possible range of 0 to 60.  A score of over 30 indicates severe alcohol dependence.

The SADQ Test

  1. The day after drinking alcohol, do you wake up feeling sweaty?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  2. The day after drinking alcohol, do your hands shake first thing in the morning?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  3. The day after drinking alcohol, does your body shake violently first thing in the morning if you don't have a drink?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  4. The day after drinking alcohol, do you wake up drenched in sweat?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  5. The day after drinking alcohol, do you dread waking up?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  6. The day after drinking alcohol, are you frightened of meeting people first thing in the morning?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  7. The day after drinking alcohol, do you feel at the edge of despair when you wake up?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  8. The day after drinking alcohol, do you feel frightened when you wake up?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  9. The day after drinking alcohol, do you like a drink in the morning?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  10. The day after drinking alcohol, do you gulp your first few drinks down as fast as possible?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  11. The day after drinking alcohol, do you drink to get rid of the shakes?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  12. The day after drinking alcohol, do you have a strong craving for drink when you wake up?
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  13. During a heavy drinking period, do you drink more than 1/4 bottle of spirits (or 1 bottle of wine, or 4 pints of beer) each day.
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  14. During a heavy drinking period, do you drink more than half a bottle of spirits per day (8 pints of beer, 2 bottles of wine).
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  15. During a heavy drinking period, do you drink more than a bottle of spirits per day (3 bottles of wine, 5 litres of cider or 10 pints of lager)
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly always
  16. During a heavy drinking period, do you drink more than 2 bottles of spirits per day (7 bottles of wine, 9 litres of cider, 20 pints of beer).
    (1) Almost never
    (2) Sometimes
    (3) Often
    (4) Nearly alwaysFOR THE NEXT 4 QUESTIONS:
    Imagine you have been abstinent for a few weeks, then drink heavily for a couple of days.
  17. The morning after would you start to sweat?
    (0) Not at all
    (1) Slightly
    (2) Moderately
    (3) Nearly always
    (4) I haven't been abstinent for that long, so it's hard to say
  18. ...would your hands shake?
    (0) Not at all
    (1) Slightly
    (2) Moderately
    (3) Nearly always
    (4) I haven't been abstinent for that long, so it's hard to say
  19. ...would your body shake?
    (0) Not at all
    (1) Slightly
    (2) Moderately
    (3) Nearly always
    (4) I haven't been abstinent for that long, so it's hard to say
  20. ...would you be craving for a drink?
    (0) Not at all
    (1) Slightly
    (2) Moderately
    (3) Nearly always
    (4) I haven't been abstinent for that long, so it's hard to say

Scoring the Test

The test is scored by totaling the numbers in the parenthesis next to the answers given by the participant.

  • A score of less than 3 indicates no alcohol dependence.
  • A score between 4 and 20 indicates mild dependence.
  • A score between 20 and 30 indicates moderate dependence.
  • A score of over 30 indicates severe dependence.

Non-Governmental Organizations

June 22, 2010 by  
Filed under Non-Governmental Resources

The organizations and links below are simply resources for you to find more information, research and statistics about drugs, drug abuse, drug addiction and recovery, so that you can make your own informed and educated conclusions.

  • Addiction Treatment Forum
    • An educational site focusing on addiction issues, especially opiate addiction and treatment.
  • American Council on Alcoholism
    • Dedicated to educating the public about the effects of alcohol, alcoholism and treatment.
  • Do It Now Foundation
    • Publisher of prevention literature.
  • Dual Diagnosis Website
    • Mental Illness, Drug Addiction and Alcoholism, MIDAA(R), MICA.
  • Focus Adolescent Services
    • Internet Clearinghouse of resources, support and information.
  • Heroin Information Website
  • Institute of Alcohol Studies
    • Information on alcohol and the social and health consequences of its misuse.
  • Join Together Online
    • National resource center and meeting place for communities working to reduce substance abuse and gun violence.
  • Learn-About-Alcoholism.com
    • Educational resource covering all aspects of alcoholism.
  • Mental Health Matters
    • Directory of mental health resources.
  • Methadone Anonymous
    • Website that answers questions about methadone and has Methadone Anonymous support.
  • Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
  • National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA)
    • Information on the cost of substance abuse throughout society and its impact on our lives.
  • National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD):
    • Provides education, information, help and hope in the fight against substance abuse.
  • The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity
    • Dedicated to promoting public and professional recognition, awareness and understanding of Sexual Addiction, Sexual Compulsivity, and Sexual Offending.
  • National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC)
    • A resource for parents, educators and professionals on inhalant abuse.
  • Recovery Connection
    • A website and that helps people locate addiction treatment centers and drug rehabilitation programs.
  • StrugglingTeens.com:
    • Woodbury Reports presents resources for parents and professionals trying to help at-risk teenagers.
  • Teen Drug Abuse
    • Educational site about why teens begin using, what they are using, and how those drugs are affecting teens physically, socially, and mentally.
  • Web of Addictions
    • Provides accurate information about alcohol and other drug addictions. Resource for anyone needing factual information about abused drugs.