Drug Addiction Test (DAST-10)
A confidential self-assessment built on the DAST-10, the ten-question drug screening clinicians and researchers have relied on for decades. In two minutes you get an instant result placed on the research-based risk levels, a plain-language interpretation with zero judgment, and a professional PDF report you can keep or bring to a doctor or therapist.
Drug Addiction Test (DAST-10) is a free, confidential 10-question self-assessment, based on the validated DAST-10. It takes about 4 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 5 interpretation bands plus a downloadable PDF report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
What the DAST-10 actually captures
Wondering whether drug use has crossed a line is a heavy question to carry alone. The DAST-10 was built to answer it with evidence instead of shame, looking at three things together over the past year.
Use and control
Whether you have used drugs beyond medical need, used more than one drug at a time, and whether you can reliably stop when you want to. Loss of control is the core signal any drug screening looks for.
Consequences to you
Blackouts or flashbacks, guilt about your use, withdrawal symptoms when stopping, and medical problems connected to drugs. These are the costs that tend to build quietly.
Life and relationships
Complaints from a partner or family, neglected responsibilities, and illegal activity to obtain drugs. The ripples that reach beyond the use itself.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Validated DAST-10 questions | Sometimes | Yes, all 10 items |
| Published research risk levels | Vague labels | Yes, the real cutoffs |
| Judgment-free interpretation | Often moralizing | Yes, for every band |
| Category breakdown | No | Use / consequences / life impact |
| Clinician-reviewed | Rarely | Yes, physician reviewed |
| Downloadable PDF report | No | Yes, branded & shareable |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–10 in total. Your result falls into one of 5 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–0 | No problems reported | Your answers did not report any of the drug-related problems the DAST-10 screens for. On this measure, nothing is raising a flag. |
| 1–2 | Low level | Your answers suggest a low level of drug-related problems. This is common, it is not a verdict on you, and it is a good moment to pay attention. |
| 3–5 | Moderate level | Your answers fall in the moderate range, where the research recommends a proper conversation with a professional. That is guidance, not judgment. |
| 6–8 | Substantial level | Your answers fall in the substantial range. Drug use appears to be taking a real toll, and that deserves real support, not more willpower. |
| 9–10 | Severe level | Your answers fall in the severe range. Please read this as a clear signal to get support now, not as a judgment. People recover from exactly this starting point every day. |
Methodology & sources
This test reproduces the 10-item Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10), developed by Harvey Skinner (1982) and one of the most widely used and best validated drug screenings in clinical practice and research (Yudko et al., 2007). All ten yes-or-no items are kept faithful to the original, reworded only for readability: use beyond medical need, using more than one drug at a time, ability to stop, blackouts or flashbacks, guilt, complaints from family, neglected responsibilities, illegal activity to obtain drugs, withdrawal symptoms, and medical problems from use. Item 3 asks whether you are always able to stop when you want to and is reverse-scored, exactly as in the original instrument, so a no answer adds a point. The test covers the past 12 months and deliberately excludes alcohol and tobacco, which have their own screenings.
Each yes answer scores one point (with item 3 reversed), for a total of 0 to 10. We interpret your total using the risk levels established in the DAST-10 research literature: 0 no problems reported, 1 to 2 a low level, 3 to 5 a moderate level, 6 to 8 a substantial level, and 9 to 10 a severe level of problems related to drug use. This test is for education and self-reflection. A score at any level is information to bring to a professional conversation, not a label, and only a licensed clinician can assess a substance use disorder.
References
- Skinner HA. The Drug Abuse Screening Test. Addict Behav. 1982;7(4):363–371. doi.org/10.1016/0306-4603(82)90005-3
- Yudko E, Lozhkina O, Fouts A. A comprehensive review of the psychometric properties of the Drug Abuse Screening Test. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2007;32(2):189–198. doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2006.08.002
- Cocco KM, Carey KB. Psychometric properties of the Drug Abuse Screening Test in psychiatric outpatients. Psychol Assess. 1998;10(4):408–414. doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.10.4.408
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Helpline. samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Drug Addiction Test (DAST-10) FAQ
What is the DAST-10?
The Drug Abuse Screening Test is a brief screening created by Harvey Skinner in 1982 and used ever since in clinics, hospitals, and research. The 10-item version asks yes-or-no questions about your drug use over the past 12 months and sorts the total into research-based risk levels. It is a starting point for an honest conversation, not a diagnosis.
Which drugs does this test cover?
Any non-medical drug use: cannabis, cocaine, stimulants, opioids, hallucinogens, inhalants, and prescription medications used beyond what was prescribed or without a prescription. It deliberately excludes alcohol and tobacco, which have their own screenings. If drinking is the thing you are actually wondering about, our alcohol use test, based on the WHO AUDIT, is the better fit.
Does a high score mean I am addicted?
No single questionnaire can tell you that. Clinicians now talk about substance use disorder, which sits on a spectrum from mild to severe rather than being something you either are or are not. A high score means your pattern of use carries real risk and deserves a professional conversation. It says nothing about your character or your worth.
I only use prescription medication. Does that count?
It can. Taking more of a medication than prescribed, taking it for reasons other than the one it was prescribed for, or using someone else's prescription all count as non-medical use on the DAST-10. Prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants are among the most commonly misused drugs, and the risks are just as real as with anything bought on the street.
Will my answers stay private?
Yes. The test runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server, never stored, and never linked to you. No account is needed, and the optional PDF is generated on your own device. Nobody will know you took this test unless you choose to share it.
When should I seek help for drug use?
If drugs are affecting your health, sleep, mood, money, work, or relationships, if you have tried to cut back and could not, or if people you trust have voiced concern, those are all good reasons to talk to someone. You do not need to hit bottom first. A doctor, a therapist, or the free and confidential SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 are all reasonable first steps.
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