The Duck Test: free PDF download

Help newcomers and clients confront their addiction during the holidays or any day!

This download is known as the duck test—"If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck"—suggests that something can be identified by its habitual characteristics. ~Wikipedia This phrase began to be used early on in AA becasue of the propensity of alcoholics not to recognize their own disease. The Duck Test is a backdoor into the consciousness of a newcomer that may help them see themselves. You will want to hand them out to your in-house clients, outpatients, and newcomers in the fellowships to help them see themselves in a non-confrontational manner.

They are standard business card size which you can print on Avery templates (we used #3327), your own card stock, or even plain paper. Cut out, then handout to clients and friends in the program during the holidays. Most business card stock will work with this design (Avery numbers 3327, 5371, 5376, and 5377 work great). You simply print on both sides. Since each printer has it own settings, you will need to experiment to see if you turn paper over, upside down, or simply rotate it to print properly so the sides match.

Have your clients and newcomers "take the test" by filling in the blank. We do offer this Duck Test in a small giveaway packet with a small resin duck and piece of hard candy to be used as a giveaway to newcomers or to be used in a group exercise.