Table 1 Short understanding of substance abuse scale (SUSS)^a

*Q1_D

- Every alcoholic and addict must accept that he or she is powerless over alcohol and drugs, and can never drink or use drugs again

Q2_D

- Every alcoholic or addict is one drink or one hit away from a total relapse

Q5_D

- Once a person is an alcoholic or an addict, he or she will always be an alcoholic or an addict

*Q7_D

- Usually if alcoholics and addicts fail to recover in AA / NA or treatment, it is because they are unmotivated and in denial

Q8_D

- If an alcoholic or addict is sober or straight for five years, then starts drinking or using drugs again, he or she is right back where he or she left off in the development of the disease

Q11_D

- There are only two possibilities for an alcoholic or drug addict – permanent abstinence or death

Q12_D

- If an alcoholic has a drink, or if an addict takes a hit, they lose control and are unable to stop from getting drunk or high

Q3_P

- The society or culture in which on grows up has a significant influence on whether or not one becomes an alcoholic or an addict

Q4_P

- A person’s environment plays an important role in determining whether he or she develops alcoholism or drug addiction

*Q6_P

- Alcoholism and drug addiction are caused, in part, by growing up in a dysfunctional family

Q9_P

- Alcoholism and drug addiction are caused, in part, by what one learns about alcohol and drugs and the drinking/drug use patterns of one’s family and peers

*Q10_P

- A person can develop alcoholism or drug addiction because of underlying psychological problems