Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST)

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Concerned about your use — or abuse — of drugs? With 20 questions, this simple self-test may help you identify aspects of your drug use which could be problematic. This test specifically does not include alcohol use. Separate tests focus on alcohol use: “CAGE Questionnaire” and “Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST), Revised”.

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Completing this Psychological Screening Test

To take the questionnaire, please click the radio button next to the selection which best reflects how each statement applies to you. The questions refer to the past 12 months. Carefully read each statement and decide whether your answer is yes or no. Please give the best answer or the answer that is right most of the time.

For the purposes of this screening test, drug abuse refers to:

  • the use of prescribed or “over the counter” drugs in excess of the directions, and
  • any non-medical use of drugs.

Remember, for the purposes of this screening test, the questions do not refer to alcoholic beverages. The DAST does not include alcohol use.

Take the Quiz

Please note: This test will only be scored correctly if you answer each one of the questions. Please also check our disclaimer on psychological testing and our psychological testing privacy guarantee.

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

2. Have you abused prescription drugs?

3. Do you abuse more than one drug at a time?

4. Can you get through the week without using drugs?

5. Are you always able to stop using drugs when you want to?

6. Have you had “blackouts” or “flashbacks” as a result of drug use?

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

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

9. Has drug abuse created problems between you and your spouse or your parents?

10. Have you lost friends because of your use of drugs?

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

12. Have you been in trouble at work because of your use of drugs?

13. Have you lost a job because of drug abuse?

14. Have you gotten into fights when under the influence of drugs?

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

16. Have you been arrested for possession of illegal drugs?

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

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

19. Have you gone to anyone for help for a drug problem?

20. Have you been involved in a treatment program especially related to drug use?


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About Scoring this Psychological Questionnaire

This quiz is scored by allocating 1 point to each ‘yes’ answer — except for questions 4 and 5, where 1 point is allocated for each ‘no’ answer — and totalling the responses.

When your quiz is scored, one of 5 different information pages will appear to describe the results for scores in your range.

Additional Information

The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) is one of the most widely used screening tests for drug abuse and addiction. Additional information is available in the following reference:

Gavin DR; Ross HE; Skinner HA. (1989) ‘Diagnostic validity of the Drug Abuse Screening Test in the assessment of DSM-III drug disorders’, British Journal of Addiction 84(3): 301-307.

All clinical material on this site is peer reviewed by one or more clinical psychologists or other qualified mental health professionals. This specific article was originally published by on and was last reviewed or updated by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Managing Editor on .

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