Here are a couple of exercises that can help you evaluate the role alcohol may be playing in your life or in the lives of friends or family members.

Attitudes about Alcohol

Family Health

Influences on Drinking Choices

Identifying Alcohol Problems

Goal
Assess your attitudes about alcohol.

Instructions
On a piece of paper, write down your answers that best describe your feelings about the following sentences.

1. People enjoy being around me more when I’ve had a few drinks.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

2. I can have a few drinks without my driving being affected.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

3. Alcohol helps me get through stressful situations.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

4. Drinking changes my personality for the worse.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

5. Drinking regularly could result in my becoming addicted to alcohol.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

6. Drinking alcohol is bad for my health.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

7. I could have family problems if I drank everyday.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

8. I have more fun at social events when I drink.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

9. Alcohol has been a negative influence on my life.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

10. My friendships would be damaged if I drank a lot.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

11. I feel more confident when I drink alcohol.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

12. Drinking alcohol is a good way for me to relax and loosen up.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

13. I would feel ashamed if I drank too much.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

14. I would have problems at school if I drank more than I do now.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

15. I would have lower grades if I drank more than I do now.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

16. Drinking is a good way to forget my problems.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

17. It is okay if I get drunk once in awhile.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

18. I feel that driving a car after having a few drinks is a stupid thing to do.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

19. I would feel more popular if I drank alcohol.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE

20. Drinking alcohol is a normal part of the college experience.
STRONGLY AGREE--------AGREE--------NOT SURE--------DISAGREE--------STRONGLY DISAGREE


Assessment

1. - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - -5
2. - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - -5
3. - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - -5
4. - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 2- - - - - - - - - - - 1
5. - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 2- - - - - - - - - - - 1
6. - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - -1
7. - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 2- - - - - - - - - - - 1
8. - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - -5
9. - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 2- - - - - - - - - - - 1
10. - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - -1
11. - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - -5
12. - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - -5
13. - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 2- - - - - - - - - - - 1
14. - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - -1
15. - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 2- - - - - - - - - - - 1
16. - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - -5
17. - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - -5
18. - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 2- - - - - - - - - - - 1
19. - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - -5
20. - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - -3 - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - -5


Add the point values for your answers for each situation then divide your point total by 20.

Reflections
1. How do you feel about the results of this survey?

2. Review your answers and score on each individual question. How do you feel about your scores on each of these attitudes?

3. What role does alcohol play in your life?

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Goal
Examine the role alcohol may or may not have had on your family.

Instructions
On a piece of paper, jot down your personal observations about how well each of the characteristics describes your family:

1. True or False - All feelings are all right to express.

2. True or False - All subjects are open to discussion.

3. True or False - Individual differences are accepted.

4. True or False - What you do is more important than who you are .

5. True or False - Everyone must conform to the dominant person’s ideas.

6. True or False - The atmosphere is generally tense.

7. True or False - Each person is responsible for his/her actions.

8. True or False - There are clear and flexible rules.

9. True or False - People feel loved and loving.

10. True or False - There are lots of “shoulds.”

11. True or False - People feel tired and stressed.

12. True or False - Growth and change are discouraged.

Assessment
For each matching answer, give yourself one point:
1. True
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. False
6. False
7. True
8. True
9. True
10. False
11. False
12. False

10-12 points: You are lucky to be part of a healthy and functional family.

4-9 points: You have a family that tends to be functional but has some unhealthy characteristics.

1-3 points: You have a family that is dysfunctional and unhealthy. Alcoholism, other drug abuse, physical/sexual abuse may also be present. Professional help is seriously recommended.


Reflections

A healthy family environment provides for children’s needs in a way that promotes normal emotional, physical, and social development. High risk alcohol use by family member(s) can have a negative impact on family health.

1. Is your family healthy/unhealthy, functional/dysfunctional? Why/ why not?

2. What dysfunctional characteristics are present in your family? How do these affect YOUR personality? How might they be modified?

3. Children of dysfunctional families often become chemically dependent. Why do you think this happens?

4. What resources for students dealing with family problems are available on your campus? If you were having problems with your family, would you use these resources? Why or why not?

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Adapted from Making Choices: A Personal Look at Alcohol & Drug Use (1992). McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Quinn/Scaffa

Goal
Raise awareness of the factors that may influence your drinking choices

Instructions
On a piece of paper, jot down the answer to each scenario that best reflects the degree to which each situation influences your desire to have a drink:

1. You were eating an enjoyable meal?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

2. You were watching television?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

3. You were visiting friends, some of whom were drinking?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

4. You had just completed a difficult task that had taken you a long time to finish?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

5.You were tense and anxious?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

6. You just had a big argument with someone in your family?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

7. You were relaxing after a busy day?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

8. You hadn’t had a drink in awhile and someone offered you one?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

9. You were waiting for a very important phone call that was 15 minutes late?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

10. You were at a party and someone offered you a drink?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

11. You were at a sporting or entertainment event?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

12. You felt as if you really needed a drink?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

13. You were with a friend who urged you to drink?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

14. You were meeting a few friends in a bar?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

15. You were alone and feeling depressed?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

16. You were celebrating a special occasion?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

17. You were doing paperwork such as studying, paying bills, or writing a letter?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

18. You wanted to feel more sophisticated and attractive?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

19. You were bored?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

20. Could you refrain from drinking regardless of the circumstances?
Definitely Yes ----- Probably Yes ----- Maybe ----- Probably No ----- Definitely No

Assessment

1. What factors influence your drinking choices?

2. How much do you rely on alcohol to enhance your life?

3. For each of the statements you answered “Yes”, are there other ways to deal with the situation rather than drinking alcohol?

Adapted from Making Choices: A Personal Look at Alcohol & Drug Use (1992). McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Quinn/Scaffa

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Goal
Assess the role alcohol may be playing in your life.

Instructions
Jot down on a piece of paper a Yes or No that best describes your answer to the following questions. Within the past three months:

1. Yes or No - Did you miss class because of drinking or hangovers?

2 . Yes or No - Did you drink to overcome shyness and to build confidence?

3. Yes or No - Did you drink to escape from study or home worries?

4. Yes or No - Did it bother you or anger if someone said you drank too much?

5. Yes or No - Did you need to have a drink before you went out on a date?

6. Yes or No - Did you ever have money problems due to alcohol consumption?

7. Yes or No - Did your friends drink less than you?

8. Yes or No - Did you ever have a memory loss due to drinking?

9. Yes or No - Did you get into trouble with residential life staff due to drinking?

10. Yes or No - Did you ever think you had a drinking problem?

11. Yes or No - Did drinking affect your reputation?

12. Yes or No - Did you always drink until the bottle was empty, all the beer cans were dead or until the party is over?

Assessment

Reflections
After completing the surveys, ask yourself the following questions:

1. How do you feel about the results of this survey?

2. What role does alcohol play in your life?

3. Is alcohol having a negative impact on your college career?

4. Do you know what campus resources are available to assist people with alcohol or other drug problems?

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