DAST-10 - Drug Abuse Screening Test

Drug Abuse Screening Test, DAST-10

The following questions concern information about your possible involvement with drugs not including alcoholic beverages during the past 12 months.

"Drug abuse" refers to (1) the use of prescribed or over-the-counter drugs in excess of the directions, and (2) any nonmedical use of drugs.

The various classes of drugs may include cannabis (marijuana, hashish), solvents (e.g., paint thinner), tranquilizers (e.g., Valium), barbiturates, cocaine, stimulants (e.g., speed), hallucinogens (e.g., LSD) or narcotics (e.g., heroin). Remember that the questions do not include alcoholic beverages.

Please answer every question. If you have difficulty with a statement, then choose the response that is mostly right.

In the past 12 months… Select
1 Have you used drugs other than those required for medical reasons?
2 Do you use more than one drug at a time?
3 Are you always able to stop using drugs when you want to? (If never use drugs, answer “Yes”)
4 Have you ever had blackouts or flashbacks as a result of drug use?
5 Do you ever feel bad or guilty about your drug use? (If never use drugs, answer “No”)
6 Does your spouse (or parents) ever complain about your involvement with drugs?
7 Have you neglected your family because of your use of drugs?
8 Have you engaged in illegal activities in order to obtain drugs?
9 Have you ever experienced withdrawal symptoms (felt sick) when you stopped taking drugs?
10 Have you had medical problems as a result of your drug use (e.g. memory loss, hepatitis, convulsions, bleeding)?
Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10). (Copyright 1982 by the Addiction Research Foundation.)
DAST10 | Patient details and clinician review
Score / interpretation (entered manually)
Review the supplied instrument instructions before scoring

DAST – 10 Scores and Zones

Score Risk Level Intervention
0 Zone 1: No risk Simple advice: Congratulations this means you are abstaining from excessive use of prescribed or over-the-counter medications, illegal or non-medical drugs.
1-2 Zone 2: At Risk Use – “low level” of problem drug use Brief Intervention (BI). You are at risk. Even though you may not be currently suffering or causing harm to yourself or others, you are at risk of chronic health or behavior problems because of using drugs or medications in excess.
3-5 Zone 3: “intermediate level” Extended BI (EBI) and RT – your score indicates you are at an “intermediate level” of problem drug use. Talk with a professional and find out what services are available to help you to decide what approach is best to help you to effectively change this pattern of behavior.
6-10 Zone 4: Very High Risk, Probable Substance Use Disorder EBI/RT- considered to be at a “substantial to severe level” of problem drug use. Refer to specialist for diagnostic evaluation and treatment.

Scoring: Score 1 point for each question answered “Yes,” except for question 3 for which a “No” receives 1 point