Problems associated with use

Self-report comprised of 20 questions with dichotomous answers. It provides a quantitative range index of problems associated with drug abuse.

The psychometric analysis was conducted with 256 subjects who sought treatment for problems related to drug use. Reported reliability indices have varied from .95 to .86 for alcohol and drug users. In studies of factor analysis two to five components that account for more than 50% of the total variance have been found .

The DAST 20 can be administered either as an interview and in self-administration format. It should not be administered to patients who are under the influence of drugs. It may be answered in five minutes in pen and paper test format .

It investigates five dimensions. Drug dependence, social problems, medical problems, poly-drug use, seeking help. To grade it the questions answered in the critical direction are summed , ie, the items 4 and 5 answered negatively score one point, and the others answered positively score one point. the total score is the sum of the 20 items. A score of zero, indicates no problems related to drugs; 1 to 5, low level; 6 to 10, moderate; 11 to 15, substantial level; 16 to 20, severe level.

Gavin, D.R., Ross, H.E., Skinner, H.A. Diagnostic Validity of the Drug Abuse Screening Test in the Assessment of DSM-III Drug Disorders. British Journal of The Addiction, 84, 301-307, 1989.