Free DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test — Online Scoring & Instant Interpretation
The DAST-10 (Drug Abuse Screening Test) is a validated 10-item Yes/No questionnaire developed by Dr. Harvey Skinner (1982) to screen for drug use problems over the past 12 months. It is recommended by NIDA and widely used in clinical settings. Complete all 10 items, get instant 5-level results, and export a free printable PDF.
In this questionnaire, "drug use" refers to: (1) prescribed or over-the-counter medications used in excess of directions, and (2) any non-medical or illicit drug use — including cannabis, cocaine, opioids, stimulants, tranquilizers, barbiturates, hallucinogens, and solvents.
This does NOT include alcohol or tobacco.
| Score | Level | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No problems reported | None at this time |
| 1 – 2 | Low level | Monitor, reassess at a later date |
| 3 – 5 | Moderate level ← cut-off | Further investigation recommended |
| 6 – 8 | Substantial level | Intensive assessment recommended |
| 9 – 10 | Severe level | Intensive assessment & treatment |
Question text...
neuroviaxacademy.com/tools/dast-10-drug-abuse-screening-test.html
DAST-10 Score Reference
| 0 | No problems reported | None at this time |
| 1–2 | Low level | Monitor, reassess later |
| 3–5 ← cut-off | Moderate level | Further investigation |
| 6–8 | Substantial level | Intensive assessment |
| 9–10 | Severe level | Assessment & treatment |
DAST-10 Score Interpretation
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Academic Citation
Skinner, H. A. (1982). The Drug Abuse Screening Test. Addictive Behaviors, 7(4), 363–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4603(82)90005-3 Yudko, E., Lozhkina, O., & Fouts, A. (2007). A comprehensive review of the psychometric properties of the DAST. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 32(2), 189–198.
How to Use This Free DAST-10 Drug Abuse Screening Test
Read the definition
"Drug use" in the DAST-10 means prescribed/OTC medication misuse and illicit drug use. It explicitly excludes alcohol and tobacco. Answer based on the past 12 months.
Answer 10 Yes/No items
Each item is answered Yes or No. Question 3 is reverse-scored — a No answer scores 1 point (inability to stop using drugs = a problem). The tool is auto-saved throughout.
Get 5-level results
Your score (0–10) is classified into five levels with a suggested action. The clinical cut-off is 3 — scores of 3 or above indicate a positive screen warranting further investigation.
Export free PDF
Save your complete DAST-10 results — score, 5-level interpretation, suggested action, and scoring reference — as a formatted PDF to share with a healthcare provider.
DAST-10 Test: Score Interpretation, Reverse Scoring & Cut-Off Explained
The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) was developed by Dr. Harvey Skinner and published in Addictive Behaviors (1982). It is a streamlined 10-item version of the original 28-item DAST, validated across more than 40 years of research and 346 published studies (Cronbach's α = 0.81). It is recommended by NIDA, included in electronic health record systems, and listed in the CARF Behavioral Health Standards Manual. The DAST-10 is published by CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) and is available for clinical and research use.
DAST-10 Scoring: The Five Levels Explained
The DAST-10 uses Yes/No responses. Each Yes answer scores 1 point — except Question 3 (reverse-scored), where No scores 1 point. Total score ranges from 0 to 10 across five severity levels. Score 0: no drug-related problems reported — no action indicated. Score 1–2: low level of drug-related problems — monitoring and reassessment recommended. Score 3–5: moderate level — the most widely used clinical cut-off point; further professional investigation recommended. Score 6–8: substantial level — intensive assessment and likely intervention recommended. Score 9–10: severe level — intensive assessment and treatment recommended.
DAST-10 Reverse Scoring: Question 3 Explained
Question 3 asks "Are you always able to stop using drugs when you want to?" — a positively worded item unlike the other nine. This reversal is intentional: it varies the cognitive pattern to maintain attention and tests a different dimension of drug use (inability to control use). A "No" response — meaning the person cannot always stop — indicates a drug-related problem and scores 1 point. A "Yes" response scores 0 points. If you have never used drugs, you should answer "Yes" (meaning you can always stop, because you never use), which correctly scores 0 points.
What the DAST-10 Does and Does Not Include
The DAST-10 explicitly excludes alcohol and tobacco. It covers only prescribed or over-the-counter medications used in excess of the directions, and any non-medical or illicit drug use — including cannabis, cocaine, opioids, stimulants (e.g., speed), tranquilizers (e.g., Valium), barbiturates, hallucinogens (e.g., LSD), and solvents. For alcohol screening, complementary tools include the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and the CAGE questionnaire. The DAST-10 and AUDIT are frequently used together in comprehensive substance use screenings.
| Feature | DAST-10 | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|
| Target substance | Drugs and medication misuse only (excludes alcohol, tobacco) | Alcohol only (excludes drugs) |
| Response format | Binary Yes/No — presence of behavioral outcomes | Multi-point frequency scales |
| Clinical cut-off | Score ≥ 3 = positive screen | Score ≥ 8 (men), ≥ 6 (women) = hazardous use |
| Items | 10 items (~2 min) | 10 items (~2 min) |
| Combined use | Often used together for a complete substance use screening | |