Someone didn’t read the Caveats for the Addiction Indicator
I have take great care to emphasize certain points when using the online Thorburn Substance Addiction Recognition Indicator. Unfortunately, a few do not carefully read the caveats. Here’s an example:
Doug:
Out of curiosity, I looke over your addiction signs test. Then, I had my husband take it for me. There were only ‘yes’ answers to three questions: 1. I smoke; 2. I am an extremely good liar; 3. I have intense mood swings.
You indicated in your evaluation that you found that 80% of people with this pattern were addicts; and, strongly suggested that the ones who were not were suffering from some other mental illness. As it happens, I am neither an addict nor am I mentally ill.
I smoke cigars once or twice a month, because I enjoy them. My physician is not particularly concerned about this because I have a fatal, but not yet terminal, illness that makes it highly unlikely that I will ever have to worry about the negative effects of smoking.
I have intense mood swings because the percolating hormones of perimenopause interact quite poorly with several of the medications that I take to control my illness. However, you should consider that perimenopause can cause intense mood swings in women who do not have my other medical problems. It does not mean that they are either addicts or mentally ill.
Finally, I am an extremely good liar. That, however doesn’t mean that I lie frequently; just that I am able to do so, when I do so, with considerable effectiveness. I think the issue here is not whether or not someone can lie well; but, that they do so frequently.
If you are going to have a test like this on the ‘net, I think it is your obligation to carefully consider all of the issues involved. The societal and employment implications of being accused of addiction are such that you really do not want people taking this test about someone and concluding that s/he has a probable addiction problem when that is not the case. I can easily see employers using this as a screening tool without considering all of the issues in question. I can see parents doing the same thing with their adolescent children.
Chris
Thanks for writing, Chris. However, you should read more carefully.
The probabilities are derived from the author’s experience.
It’s pretty clear that this isn’t a double-blind scientific study, even if my findings are based on numerous anecdotes (i.e., real-life stories).
As I explain on the site: “This means that in 80 out of 100 similar cases I have found that a person with this score is either (1) a practicing alcoholic or other drug addict, (2) a recovering addict, or (3) a person in a romantic, familial or work relationship with one addicted to psychoactive drugs (including the drug alcohol).”
This means what it says. It is not “80% are addicts,” as you seem to imply.
The site says: “While the vast majority of those who demonstrate such behaviors are found to be active substance addicts, I have observed that some are not.”
This, too, means what it says. It does not mean:
“and, strongly suggested that the ones who were not were suffering from some other mental illness.”
I further clarify:
“Your score also means that 20 out of 100 times, the cause of the bizarre, destructive or unethical behavior has proven to be something else, such as a psycho-pathological disorder.”
Sorry to be flippant, but you may want to look up the meaning of “such as.” I’d have no problem with adding “menopausal women,” but I’ve a hunch I’d be blasted for that as well. I think most people can figure that one out.
“The societal and employment implications of being accused of addiction”
Try reading my web site and my work. I give the benefit of the doubt in assuming Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Jeffrey Dahmer are alcoholics. It is not an accusation; it is a diagnosis of a genetic disorder that causes misbehaviors.
“I can easily see employers using this as a screening tool without considering all of the issues in question. I can see parents doing the same thing with their adolescent children.”
Yes, let’s hope so. As I also say on the site:
“Without blood tests, we cannot know that addiction does not exist.” And addiction must be ruled out before any other treatment.