Addiction Severity
Dimension 1054 of 1,100 · Health Lens
Addiction Severity measures the degree to which an expression reflects compulsive substance use, craving, loss of control, and self-recognition of problematic use. It encompasses urges to use, difficulty limiting use, preoccupation with substances, and identification with addiction or impaired sobriety.
evidence final name · Severity Substance Use
Minimal Addiction Severity
Expressions activating this band show little to no clear substance-related compulsion and are often diffuse, unrelated, or only indirectly connected to self-control, sacrifice, or distress. Substance use problems are not distinctly present as an active experience.
Mild Addiction Severity
Expressions activating this band reflect emerging concern about substance use, including cravings, harmful use for pleasure, withdrawal-like experiences, or a felt need for help. The experience is recognizable as problematic but not yet dominated by persistent loss of control.
Moderate Addiction Severity
Expressions activating this band reflect intrusive preoccupation with substances and difficulty stopping behavior despite knowing it is wrong or harmful. Substance use is experienced as compelling, identity-relevant, or mentally consuming.
High Addiction Severity
Expressions activating this band reflect established addiction marked by strong craving, repeated questioning of harm, inability to reliably stop, and difficulty maintaining limits or sobriety. Substance use is experienced as a persistent controlling force with interpersonal and self-regulatory consequences.
Severe Addiction Severity
Expressions activating this band reflect explicit recognition of addiction and pronounced loss of control over substance use. The experience centers on being unable to quit or confidently govern use, often with direct self-labeling as addicted or alcoholic.
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Anchor definitions
Minimal Severity Substance Use: Severity substance use is present at a low level. Expressions activating this band reflect early or diffuse severity substance use.
Emerging Severity Substance Use: Severity substance use is experienced here as observable behavioral patterns associated with problematic or disordered functioning. Unlike the band below, where severity substance use was characterized by a general or mixed form, the proxy here has shifted in character. Expressions activating this band engage with severity substance use at a level associated with formal behavioral assessment.
Elevated Severity Substance Use: Severity substance use is present here in a general or mixed form without a single dominant facet. Unlike the band below, where severity substance use was characterized by the behavioral form, the proxy here has shifted in character. The facets that dominated at lower levels have receded. Expressions activating this band may reflect general or diffuse severity substance use.
Severe Severity Substance Use: Severity substance use is experienced here as observable behavioral patterns associated with problematic or disordered functioning. Unlike the band below, where severity substance use was characterized by a general or mixed form, the proxy here has shifted in character. The facets that dominated at lower levels have receded. Expressions activating this band engage with severity substance use at a level associated with formal behavioral assessment.