Summary
Purpose and Clinical UtilityThe Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) is a 10-item, self-report instrument designed to provide a brief, rapid screening for problematic drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco). Developed by Harvey A. Skinner, Ph.D., in 1982, it is a shortened version of the original 28-item DAST. The tool asks about drug use in the preceding 12 months and is intended to quantify the extent of drug involvement and identify individuals who may require a more thorough assessment for a substance use disorder. Scoring and InterpretationThe DAST-10 is scored by summing the responses, where each 'Yes' answer receives 1 point and each 'No' answer receives 0 points, except for question #3 when 'Yes' is 0 points and 'No' is 1 point. The total score can range from 0 to 10. 1. Have you used drugs other than those required for medical reasons? Yes(1) No (0)2. Do you abuse more than one drug at a time? Yes (1) No (0)3. Are you unable to stop abusing drugs when you want to? If never used drugs, answer "yes." Yes (0) No (1)4. Have you ever had blackouts or flashbacks as a result of drug use? Yes (1) No (0)5. Do you ever feel bad or guilty about your drug use? If never used drugs, answer "no." Yes (1) No (0)6. Does your spouse (or parents) ever complain about your involvement with drugs? Yes (1) No (0)7. Have you neglected your family because of your use of drugs? Yes (1) No (0)8. Have you engaged in illegal activities in order to obtain drugs? Yes (1) No (0)9. Have you ever experienced withdrawal symptoms (felt sick) when you stopped taking drugs? Yes (1) No (0)10. Have you had medical problems as a result of your drug use (e.g. memory loss, hepatitis, convulsions, bleeding, etc.)? Yes (1) No (0) The score corresponds to a specific level of risk and suggests a recommended course of action: Score 0: No problems reported. Indicates no intervention is required at this time.Score 1-2: Low Level. Suggests monitoring and a brief intervention consisting of psychoeducation and advice.Score 3-5: Moderate Level. Warrants further investigation and a more intensive brief intervention and counseling.Score 6-8: Substantial Level. Indicates the need for intensive assessment and referral to treatment.Score 9-10: Severe Level. Indicates the need for intensive assessment and referral to treatment is critical. Development and ValidationThe DAST was originally developed to provide a standardized instrument for assessing drug abuse that parallels the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). The DAST-10 has demonstrated strong psychometric properties across various populations. Studies have shown high internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients typically exceeding 0.90. For instance, a review by Yudko, Lozhkina, & Fouts (2007) affirmed its reliability and validity as a screening tool. Its brevity makes it highly suitable for use in busy clinical settings, such as primary care offices, emergency departments, and mental health clinics, to quickly identify patients at risk. LimitationsWhile the DAST-10 is a valuable screening tool, it has limitations. As a self-report measure, its accuracy depends on the patient's honesty and insight, and it may be subject to under-reporting due to social desirability bias or denial. It is a screening instrument, not a diagnostic tool, and a high score should be followed by a comprehensive clinical assessment to establish a formal diagnosis (e.g., according to DSM-5 criteria). Furthermore, the tool specifically excludes alcohol and tobacco, which are common co-occurring substance use issues that would require separate screening.