Phelps-Nourse Test of Addictiveness

Info on Hannah Lloyd, CSAC

   A Diagnosis of Addiction?
Addiction Recovery Resources for the Professional
[ ARR Home Page | A Diagnosis of Addiction? | Phelps-Nourse Test | Book Store | Resource Links | A Nurse's Story ]

What constitutes a diagnosis of addiction?

According to the AMA and APA, Addiction to Alcohol and Other Drugs is a disease. This has been so since 1956 (AMA), and 1960 (APA). It qualifies as a disease because it meets the following criteria:
  1. Primary: The illness exists in and of itself. (Addiction is secondary only to addiction but may manifest in addition to other illnesses.)
  2. Chronic: Does not go away, fix itself, or spontaneously remit.
  3. Progressive: Worsens over time.
  4. Symptomatic: Can be diagnosed through careful attention to the ways it manifests in a person's behavior and lifestyle.
  5. Fatal: If left untreated.
  6. Treatable: That is what this service is about.


Additional questions...
  • Are you afraid that if you ask for help you will lose your job or license?
  • Do you work long hours at your office or clinic pharmacy or hospital setting? Is this your source of pharmaceuticals?
  • Do you drink when you don't have your drug of choice?
  • Is your family expressing concern about your attitude, isolation, driven behavior in other areas?
  • Have you had an experience of not remembering what you have said or done or even that you were present in a given situation?
  • Have you thought about killing yourself?
  • Are you an adult child of an alcoholic parent?
  • Do you find yourself looking for justification of your use?
  • Do you make decisions about where you live, who you live/associate with, what work you do, based on your continued ability to drink/use?
If so there is a problem.


Thumbnail sketch: Asking these questions often provides an answer.

  • When you drink or use a mood-altering chemical, can you predict what your feelings, mood, behavior will be?
  • Do you experience negative results from your use and do it anyway?
  • Have you ever attempted to control your use? Were you successful?


Health Practitioners' Intervention Programs

Some states have Health Practitioners' Intervention Programs which provide appropriate referral, a possible stay of disciplinary action, monitoring and advocacy.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has such a program, as does Pennsylvania, Florida, Western Michigan, and others. Contact me at Hannahlloyd@mac.com for informaton and referral to these advocacy systems.




Addiction Recovery Resources for the Professional
[ ARR Home Page | A Diagnosis of Addiction? | Phelps-Nourse Test | Book Store | Resource Links | A Nurse's Story ]
Hannah Lloyd, BGS CSAC
221 Albemarle Ave. SW, Roanoke, VA 24016
Email: Hannahlloyd@mac.com
Telephone: (540) 815-4214, fax (888) 497-9479

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