What is DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test?

Screen past-year drug-use consequences with DAST-10.

How is DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test calculated? What is the core formula?

Ten yes/no items (item 3 reverse-scored); total 0–10. Confidential interview covering past 12 months; exclude alcohol/tobacco.

What are the key clinical points for DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test?

Ten items. Five zones. Next: brief intervention / referral.

What are the limits and cautions when using DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test?

When not to use: replacing full SUD assessment. Pitfall: forgetting reverse item 3. Not a sole SUD diagnosis. For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.

Does DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test upload patient data? Where is it calculated?

Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.

How is DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?

Inputs: 1. Used drugs other than those required for medical reasons? No (0), 2. Used more than one drug at a time? No (0), 3. Able to stop using drugs when you want? (No = +1) Yes, can stop (0), 4. Had blackouts or flashbacks as a result of drug use? No (0), 5. Felt bad or guilty about your drug use? No (0), 6. Family complained about your involvement with drugs? No (0), 7. Stayed away from family because of drug use? No (0), 8. Engaged in illegal activities to obtain drugs? No (0)… → Result: DAST-10 0 /10（Zone: 0 — no reported problems） Inputs: 1. Used drugs other than those required for medical reasons? Yes (+1), 2. Used more than one drug at a time? Yes (+1), 3. Able to stop using drugs when you want? (No = +1) No, cannot stop (+1), 4. Had blackouts or flashbacks as a result of drug use? Yes (+1), 5. Felt bad or guilty about your drug use? Yes (+1), 6. Family complained about your involvement with drugs? Yes (+1), 7. Stayed away from family because of drug use? Yes (+1), 8. Engaged in illegal activities to obtain drugs? Yes (+1)… → Result: DAST-10 10 /10（Zone: 9–10 — severe; urgent specialty referral）

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💊 DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test

UseWhen to use: adults when substance-use screening beyond alcohol is needed.

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StrataZones 0 / 1–2 / 3–5 / 6–8 / 9–10 escalate assessment intensity.

LimitsWhen not to use: replacing full SUD assessment. · Pitfall: forgetting reverse item 3. · Not a sole SUD diagnosis.

SourceDAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test (Skinner)

Runs locally in your browser (no PHI uploaded). For licensed clinicians — not a substitute for clinical judgement.

Stored on this device for revisit reminders

This-shift next steps

After scoring: open the scene pack, peer scores, and the matching pathway. Local reference — no HIS write.

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Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes

Clinical takeaway

Ten items.

When to use

When to use: adults when substance-use screening beyond alcohol is needed.

How it works

Ten yes/no items (item 3 reverse-scored); total 0–10.

Key points

Ten items.
Five zones.
Next: brief intervention / referral.

References

DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test (Skinner)

Worked calculation

The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.

1. Used drugs other than those required for medical reasons?	No (0)
2. Used more than one drug at a time?	No (0)
3. Able to stop using drugs when you want? (No = +1)	Yes, can stop (0)
4. Had blackouts or flashbacks as a result of drug use?	No (0)
5. Felt bad or guilty about your drug use?	No (0)
6. Family complained about your involvement with drugs?	No (0)
7. Stayed away from family because of drug use?	No (0)
8. Engaged in illegal activities to obtain drugs?	No (0)
9. Experienced withdrawal symptoms?	No (0)
10. Had medical problems from drug use (memory, hepatitis, etc.)?	No (0)

→DAST-100/10

Zone：0 — no reported problems

1. Used drugs other than those required for medical reasons?	Yes (+1)
2. Used more than one drug at a time?	Yes (+1)
3. Able to stop using drugs when you want? (No = +1)	No, cannot stop (+1)
4. Had blackouts or flashbacks as a result of drug use?	Yes (+1)
5. Felt bad or guilty about your drug use?	Yes (+1)
6. Family complained about your involvement with drugs?	Yes (+1)
7. Stayed away from family because of drug use?	Yes (+1)
8. Engaged in illegal activities to obtain drugs?	Yes (+1)
9. Experienced withdrawal symptoms?	Yes (+1)
10. Had medical problems from drug use (memory, hepatitis, etc.)?	Yes (+1)

→DAST-1010/10

Zone：9–10 — severe; urgent specialty referral

Verification & sources · governance

Four-layer sources

Verified: 2026-09-25 · Result not structured

Algorithm / derivation
Skinner HA. The drug abuse screening test. Addict Behav 1982 (original DAST; DAST-10 is the short form). doi:10.1016/0306-4603(82)90005-3 — Ten past-year drug-consequence items (item 3 reverse-scored); zones 0 / 1–2 / 3–5 / 6–8 / 9–10.
Guideline / society
USPSTF Recommendation Statement: Screening for Unhealthy Drug Use (JAMA 2020; doi:10.1001/jama.2020.8020) — 10-item DAST listed among screening tools
Implementation
Confidential interview; exclude alcohol/tobacco.
Background reading
Yudko E, et al. A comprehensive review of the psychometric properties of the Drug Abuse Screening Test. J Subst Abuse Treat 2007. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2006.08.002

Can do

Screen past-year drug-use problems and assign zone

Cannot do

Diagnose substance use disorder
Screen alcohol or tobacco use

DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test (Skinner).

Formula changelog

2026-09-17 — Gold trust overlay: four-layer sources + can/cannot
2026-09-25 — Trust layer: verified source DOI/URL (unverifiable items marked 待补), bilingual can/cannot

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test upload patient data? Where is it calculated?: Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
How is DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?: Inputs: 1. Used drugs other than those required for medical reasons? No (0), 2. Used more than one drug at a time? No (0), 3. Able to stop using drugs when you want? (No = +1) Yes, can stop (0), 4. Had blackouts or flashbacks as a result of drug use? No (0), 5. Felt bad or guilty about your drug use? No (0), 6. Family complained about your involvement with drugs? No (0), 7. Stayed away from family because of drug use? No (0), 8. Engaged in illegal activities to obtain drugs? No (0)… → Result: DAST-10 0 /10（Zone: 0 — no reported problems） Inputs: 1. Used drugs other than those required for medical reasons? Yes (+1), 2. Used more than one drug at a time? Yes (+1), 3. Able to stop using drugs when you want? (No = +1) No, cannot stop (+1), 4. Had blackouts or flashbacks as a result of drug use? Yes (+1), 5. Felt bad or guilty about your drug use? Yes (+1), 6. Family complained about your involvement with drugs? Yes (+1), 7. Stayed away from family because of drug use? Yes (+1), 8. Engaged in illegal activities to obtain drugs? Yes (+1)… → Result: DAST-10 10 /10（Zone: 9–10 — severe; urgent specialty referral）

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