Clinician or parent? Hand your device over with the score hidden, or send the test to their phone.
10 questions · about 2–4 minutes
For each one, pick the answer that fits you best over the past 12 months. There are no right or wrong answers.
Your answers stay on this device. Nothing is saved or sent unless you choose to email the results. This screening tool is for educational and self-awareness purposes only. It does not constitute a clinical diagnosis of substance use disorder. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, please contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7).
- Questions
- 10
- Time
- 2–4 min
- Looks back over
- The past 12 months
- Score range
- 0–10
- Cost
- Free
What the DAST-10 measures
- Non-medical drug use patterns
- Loss of control over drug use
- Drug-related blackouts or flashbacks
- Feelings of guilt about drug use
- Spouse/family complaints about drug involvement
- Neglect of responsibilities due to drug use
- Engagement in illegal activities related to drugs
- Withdrawal symptoms from drugs
- Medical problems related to drug use
About the DAST-10
The DAST-10 was developed by Dr. Harvey A. Skinner (1982) at the Addiction Research Foundation in Toronto, Canada. It is the shortened version of the original 28-item DAST and has been widely adopted in clinical settings including primary care, emergency departments, and mental health practices.
The DAST-10 specifically assesses drug use excluding alcohol and tobacco. It covers a broad range of substances including cannabis, cocaine, opioids, hallucinogens, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and other psychoactive substances. The questions focus on consequences and patterns of use rather than quantities consumed, making it applicable across different drug types.
It is commonly used alongside the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) to provide a comprehensive picture of substance use patterns.
How the DAST-10 is scored
- Every question is answered on the same scale, from "No" (0 points) to "Yes" (1 points).
- The answers are added together for a total from 0 to 10.
- For example, answering "Yes" to all 10 questions gives 1 × 10 = 10, which falls in the Severe Level range.
DAST-10 score ranges
The ranges this quiz uses to label a score. They describe where a score falls, not a diagnosis.
| Result | Score |
|---|---|
| No Problems Reported | 0 |
| Low Level | 1–2 |
| Moderate Level | 3–5 |
| Substantial Level | 6–8 |
| Severe Level | 9–10 |
How to read the results
- It is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. The score describes the past 12 months, and a label only says where that falls compared with the people the questionnaire was tested on. A word like "mild" does not mean a mild disorder.
- Look at the answers, not only the total. Which questions scored highest often says more about what to work on than the number does.
- Compare with yourself over time. Taking it again in a few weeks, or after starting therapy, shows whether things are moving. Compare each score with your own earlier one, not with someone else's.
- Talk it through. A clinician will ask what no questionnaire can: how long it has been like this, what else is going on, and how much it gets in the way.
The DAST-10 compared with similar tests
| Test | Screens for | Questions | Looks back over |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUDIT | Alcohol use and its risks | 10 | The past year |
| DAST-10 (this page) | Problems from drug use | 10 | The past 12 months |
Using the DAST-10 with clients
- Baseline, then repeat. Give it at intake, then at regular intervals, and compare each score with the client's own earlier ones to see whether treatment is working.
- Hand to client. Give it on your own device in session. The questions fill the screen with nothing else on it, and the scores stay hidden until you take the device back and press Show results.
- Send to someone. Send a link before the session by text or email. Tick "Ask for a copy of their results" and their results page offers to email you their score. They decide whether to send it. Your address travels in the link itself and never reaches our servers.
- Copy summary and Print. The results screen copies a one-line summary for the session note, or prints the results on their own.
- Nothing is stored. Answers stay in the browser. Results leave it only when someone chooses to email them, and that email is not kept.
- Billing. Giving and scoring a standardized instrument like the DAST-10 is commonly billed as CPT 96127, one unit per instrument. Payers set their own limits, so check before relying on it.
Diagnosis codes often documented for this concern
For reference only. A screening score is not a diagnosis, and none of these follows from a score on its own.
Where to go from here
- Individual Counseling at Crown Counseling · in Brooklyn and online across New York
- Free resources for therapists
Frequently Asked Questions
What drugs does the DAST-10 screen for?+
The DAST-10 covers all non-alcohol, non-tobacco substances including cannabis, cocaine, opioids (heroin, prescription painkillers), hallucinogens, stimulants (methamphetamine, MDMA), benzodiazepines (when used non-medically), inhalants, and other psychoactive substances.
Does a high score mean I'm addicted?+
A high DAST-10 score indicates significant drug-related problems, but it is not a diagnosis of addiction or substance use disorder. A clinical evaluation by a qualified professional is needed for formal diagnosis and treatment planning.
What time period does the DAST-10 cover?+
The DAST-10 asks about your drug use experiences over the past 12 months.
Why doesn't the DAST-10 include alcohol?+
The DAST-10 focuses specifically on drug use. Alcohol use is typically assessed separately using instruments like the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test). This separation allows for more targeted screening and intervention.
Are my responses stored?+
No. All responses remain completely private and local to your browser. No data is collected, stored, or transmitted to any server.
References
- Skinner HA. The Drug Abuse Screening Test. Addict Behav. 1982;7(4):363-371.
- Yudko E, Lozhkina O, Fouts A. A comprehensive review of the psychometric properties of the Drug Abuse Screening Test. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2007;32(2):189-198.
- Bohn MJ, Babor TF, Kranzler HR. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). J Stud Alcohol. 1995;56(4):423-432.
- SAMHSA. Screening and Assessment of Co-Occurring Disorders in the Justice System. 2015.