How is drug addiction identified?

Drug addiction is identified through a clinical assessment, not by a single symptom, lab test, or impression. A clinician evaluates whether DSM-5 substance use disorder criteria are present, including impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacologic criteria such as tolerance and withdrawal. The diagnosis depends on the number of criteria present within the past 12 months and the extent of resulting impairment or distress.

Screening questionnaires can help flag risk, but they are not the same as a formal diagnosis. They are often used as a first step in healthcare settings to determine whether fuller assessment or referral is needed. SAMHSA’s SBIRT model is built around this idea of screening, brief intervention, and referral before problems become more severe.

A full evaluation may also consider medical history, mental health symptoms, other substances being used, and the person’s level of functioning. The goal is not just to label the problem, but to determine its severity and what type of support or treatment is most appropriate.