MAST Alcohol Assessment Questions for Alcohol Abuse
The MAST test is a series of yes-or-no questions that can be completed in about eight minutes. Its results help you see whether you may have a problem with alcohol use.
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The MAST alcohol test, is a self-scoring questionnaire developed to assess the presence and severity of drinking problems. It’s one of the oldest and widely used tools for detecting alcohol abuse, and there have been many variations developed since its inception. The following version consists of 22 self-scoring alcohol assessment test questions.
- The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) is a questionnaire that can help you assess whether you have a drinking problem.
- The MAST quiz asks 25 yes-or-no questions related to past drinking and alcohol-related incidents.
- Each response is awarded a certain number of points, which are tallied up at the end to give you a MAST score.
- MAST scores of zero to three are considered non-problematic, four is considered early or mid alcohol addiction and five or more is considered severe addiction.
- MAST can be used as a screening tool that helps open up communication about starting treatment
This quiz is a self-guided assessment that has been created from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders which is the standard criteria for diagnosing mental health and substance use disorders. It should not be considered as a final diagnosis but can be your first step in determining whether your drinking habits are a reason for concern. Please consult a medical professional if your MAST test results indicate a likelihood of alcohol addiction.
Check the answer that best describes your answer to each question. Your answers will remain confidential, so please be honest.
Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. View our editorial policy or view our research.
FAQs
Alcohol assessments are brief questionnaires that help you or your medical provider determine whether you have problematic drinking patterns. Anyone can take an alcohol assessment, and doing so is a good idea if you have been concerned about your drinking. What starts out as casual drinking can sometimes turn into dependence and heavy use, so assessments can be a helpful way to stay vigilant about your drinking patterns.
There are many user-friendly alcohol assessments available, including:
- MAST (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test)
- AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test)
- CAGE (Cut, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener)
The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test, often called the MAST alcohol test, is a questionnaire that assesses the presence and severity of drinking problems. It’s one of the oldest and most widely used tools for detecting alcohol abuse, and there have been many variations developed since its inception. The following version consists of 25 yes-or-no questions.
The MAST alcohol assessment quiz was initially developed as a 25-question test that could be used by the general population. It can be self-administered or taken in an interview format with a qualified interviewer. Since it was first created in 1971, it has been successful in identifying dependent drinkers with up to 98% accuracy.
Other variations of the MAST screening test include:
- UMAST: A simpler version of the 25-question assessment with unit scoring
- BMAST: A shorter, 10-question version with weighted scoring
- SMAST: A shorter, 13-questions version with unit scoring
The condensed versions were created to provide a fast but accurate method for detecting alcohol-related concerns. Assessments with unit scoring also offer quicker, simplified results.
Unlike other alcohol evaluations, the MAST assessment focuses primarily on past drinking and alcohol-related incidents, and it does not specify a certain time frame. It includes only a few questions about current alcohol habits and potential signs of addiction. This makes it less reliable in detecting early signs of alcohol use disorder.
Since the MAST includes more questions than similar tests, it provides several benefits that shorter assessments cannot. Longer assessments allow for more open communication between a patient and the professional providing the test. This can give the professional a greater opportunity to determine the type of help their patient may need. The questions can also help uncover societal, occupational and family issues related to excessive alcohol use.
All of the MAST alcohol screening tests are scored on a point scale system. Each response has a value attached to it. Scores of zero to three indicate no apparent drinking problem. A score of four suggests an early to mid-range drinking problem. Finally, scores of five or higher point to more severe alcohol dependence.
Keep in mind that the results of the MAST alcohol screening test — or any alcohol quiz — are not intended as an official diagnosis. An official alcohol use disorder diagnosis can only be made by a licensed professional.
If you or a loved one is concerned about alcohol use, consider reaching out to the experienced providers at The Recovery Village. Our team is here to guide you through the process and find the right type of care for your needs. We are here to support you.
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