Clinically reviewed by David Stern, MD, board certified in addiction medicine, Medical Director at Southeastern Recovery Center. Last reviewed: November 7, 2026.
Clinical content by Rhett Owensby, LCAS, LCMHC, CCSI, Clinical Director.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.
Drinking heavily every day? Stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. Please talk to a doctor before you quit or cut back a lot.
Feeling down or anxious and also drinking more than you want to? You are not alone, and it is not a personal failing. Mood, anxiety and alcohol use often affect each other. This free self-check can help you see how they may be connected for you. It takes about 5 minutes.
It has three short parts, each a well-known screening tool used by doctors:
You get a separate score for each part. Nothing you choose is sent to us or saved. The self-check runs only in your web browser.
Please read first: This self-check is for education only. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an evaluation by a licensed professional. Your answers stay in your browser. We do not see, save or send them. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
19 scored questions plus 1 follow-up, one at a time. Think about the last 2 weeks for Parts 1 and 2, and the past year for Part 3. You can go back and change an answer at any time.
Thank you for being honest. You deserve support right now.
If you are having thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting yourself, please reach out now. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time, day or night. It is free and confidential. You can also chat at 988lifeline.org. If you are in danger right now, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Your results show here when you finish. Each part has its own score. These are screening results, not a diagnosis.
0 to 4: Your answers show few signs of depression right now. If your mood changes, you can take this again or talk with your doctor.
5 to 9: Your answers show some signs of depression. It is worth keeping an eye on, and talking with your doctor or a counselor can help.
10 to 14: Your answers show a moderate level of depression symptoms. This is a good time to talk with a professional. Depression is treatable.
15 to 19: Your answers show a moderately severe level of depression symptoms. Please talk with a professional soon. You do not have to feel this way alone.
20 to 27: Your answers show a severe level of depression symptoms. Please reach out for help soon. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
0 to 4: Your answers show few signs of anxiety right now.
5 to 9: Your answers show some signs of anxiety. Talking with your doctor or a counselor can help.
10 to 14: Your answers show a moderate level of anxiety. This is a good time to talk with a professional. Anxiety is treatable.
15 to 21: Your answers show a severe level of anxiety. Please talk with a professional soon.
The AUDIT-C uses two cutoffs. A score of 4 or more is a positive screen for men. A score of 3 or more is a positive screen for women. A positive screen means your drinking may be risky for your health. It does not mean you have an alcohol use disorder.
0 to 2: Your score is below both cutoffs. If you drink, keeping it low lowers your risk.
3: Your score is at the cutoff for women and just below the cutoff for men. It may be worth looking more closely at your drinking. Try the full alcohol quiz.
4 to 12: Your score is at or above the cutoff for both men and women. Your drinking may be putting your health at risk. Higher scores generally mean more risk. Take the full alcohol quiz or call us to talk it through.
Your answers show signs in both your mood or anxiety and your drinking. That is very common, and it does not mean you are weak. About 35% of adults with a mental health condition other than a substance use disorder also have a substance use disorder (NIDA, citing the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health). When both happen together, it is often called a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. Only a professional can say whether that applies to you.
Alcohol can seem to ease anxiety at first. But over time, heavy drinking and repeated withdrawal can make anxiety worse, and drinking can increase (NIAAA). Research shows it is usually better to treat both at the same time (NIDA).
Worried about drug use too? This self-check only asks about alcohol. Call us to talk about any substance, including prescription medicines.
See which level of care may fit: level-of-care guide
We treat substance use and mental health together. Call (704) 452-4985.
We work with many major insurance plans; call to verify your benefits. Detox/Rehab May Be Fully Covered: check your insurance.
This self-check is for education only. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an evaluation by a licensed professional. Your answers stay in your browser. We do not see, save or send them. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
PHQ-9 developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc.
GAD-7 developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc.
AUDIT-C: the first three questions of the AUDIT, World Health Organization.
Depression, anxiety and substance use often show up together. NIDA notes that about half of people who have a mental health condition will also have a substance use disorder at some point in their lives, and the reverse is also true. That does not mean one caused the other (NIDA). Some people drink to cope with hard feelings. For others, drinking makes low mood or worry worse. Often it is both.
The good news is that both can be treated, and people are more likely to recover when both are treated (NIAAA).
Southeastern Recovery Center, in Concord near Charlotte, treats addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions together. Learn about our integrated dual diagnosis care.
A clinician decides which level of care fits you, after talking with you.
“It is important to bring the patient to a state of mental stability so they can benefit from treatment, especially counseling. That cannot be achieved in the setting of anxiety, depression, trauma. Thus, from the outset, we treat for mental health issues (anxiety, depression…) in addition to issues related to the specific substance.”
David Stern, MD, Medical Director, Southeastern Recovery Center
| Part | Questions | Each answer | Total | Bands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHQ-9 (mood) | 9 scored + 1 unscored | 0 to 3 | 0 to 27 | 0-4 minimal, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-19 moderately severe, 20-27 severe |
| GAD-7 (anxiety) | 7 | 0 to 3 | 0 to 21 | 0-4 minimal, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-21 severe |
| AUDIT-C (drinking) | 3 | 0 to 4 | 0 to 12 | positive screen: 4 or more (men), 3 or more (women) |
A dual diagnosis means a person has a substance use disorder and a mental health condition, like depression or anxiety, at the same time. It is also called co-occurring disorders. Only a licensed professional can make this diagnosis. Learn more about dual diagnosis.
The PHQ-9 measures depression symptoms on a scale of 0 to 27. Scores of 5, 10, 15 and 20 mark mild, moderate, moderately severe and severe levels. The GAD-7 measures anxiety symptoms on a scale of 0 to 21. Scores of 5, 10 and 15 mark mild, moderate and severe levels. A higher score means more symptoms, not a diagnosis.
Drinking can make anxiety worse. Alcohol may seem to ease anxiety in the short term, but over time, heavy drinking and repeated withdrawal can increase anxiety symptoms, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Yes. The self-check runs only in your web browser. We do not see, save or send your answers or your scores. Nothing is stored after you leave the page, and we never ask for your name, email or phone number to see results.
David Stern, MD is the Medical Director at Southeastern Recovery Center. He is board certified in addiction medicine and holds an active North Carolina medical license. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University and has more than 40 years in practice.