DAST-10 (Drug Abuse Screening Test) Calculator

questionnaire

Have you used drugs other than those required for medical reasons?

Do you abuse more than one drug at a time?

Are you always able to stop using drugs when you want to?Reverse scored

Have you had blackouts or flashbacks as a result of drug use?

Do you ever feel bad or guilty about your drug use?

Does your spouse (or parents) ever complain about your involvement with drugs?

Have you neglected your family because of your use of drugs?

Have you engaged in illegal activities in order to obtain drugs?

Have you ever experienced withdrawal symptoms (felt sick) when you stopped taking drugs?

Have you had medical problems as a result of your drug use (e.g., memory loss, hepatitis, convulsions, bleeding)?

✓ when to use

Use as a brief drug use screening tool in primary care, ED, pre-operative assessment, and mental health settings. Screens for non-alcohol substance misuse. Pair with AUDIT-C for a comprehensive substance use screen. Takes under 2 minutes.

✗ when not to use

The DAST-10 does not screen for alcohol (use AUDIT/AUDIT-C) or tobacco. 'Drugs' refers to illicit drugs and misuse of prescription medications. The yes/no format may not capture severity nuances. Social desirability bias may lead to underreporting. Not validated as a diagnostic tool for substance use disorders.

clinical pearls

Question 3 is reverse-scored ('Are you able to stop using drugs when you want to?'). 'Yes' = 0, 'No' = 1. This is a common scoring error.
The DAST-10 covers the past 12 months. It does not assess current intoxication or acute substance effects — it measures the pattern and consequences of drug use over time.
Pair DAST-10 with AUDIT-C for comprehensive substance screening: AUDIT-C for alcohol, DAST-10 for drugs. Together they take under 3 minutes.
'Drugs' includes cannabis, cocaine, opioids, benzodiazepines (non-prescribed), amphetamines, hallucinogens, inhalants, and misuse of prescription drugs. Be explicit about what is included when administering.
A positive DAST-10 should trigger further assessment, not a label. Explore the context, pattern, and consequences of use. Brief intervention is effective for low-moderate scores; higher scores warrant specialist referral.

✓ when to use

✗ when not to use

clinical pearls

Question 3 is reverse-scored ('Are you able to stop using drugs when you want to?'). 'Yes' = 0, 'No' = 1. This is a common scoring error.
The DAST-10 covers the past 12 months. It does not assess current intoxication or acute substance effects — it measures the pattern and consequences of drug use over time.
Pair DAST-10 with AUDIT-C for comprehensive substance screening: AUDIT-C for alcohol, DAST-10 for drugs. Together they take under 3 minutes.
'Drugs' includes cannabis, cocaine, opioids, benzodiazepines (non-prescribed), amphetamines, hallucinogens, inhalants, and misuse of prescription drugs. Be explicit about what is included when administering.
A positive DAST-10 should trigger further assessment, not a label. Explore the context, pattern, and consequences of use. Brief intervention is effective for low-moderate scores; higher scores warrant specialist referral.

DAST-10 (Drug Abuse Screening Test)

questionnaire

✓ when to use

✗ when not to use

clinical pearls

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