Phoenix House > Get Help > Screening Tools Adults 18 and Over

Questions for adults (18 and over) concerned about their drug use (DAST).

Directions: The following questions concern information about your possible involvement with drugs not including alcohol during the past 12 months. Carefully read each statement and decide if your answer is "Yes" or "No."

In the following statements, "drug abuse" refers to:
    1. The use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs in excess of the directions, and

    2. Any non-medical use of drugs.
The various classes of drugs may include cannabis (marijuana, hashish), solvents (e.g., paint thinner), tranquilizers (e.g., Valium), barbiturates, cocaine, stimulants (e.g., speed), hallucinogens (e.g., LSD) or narcotics (e.g., heroin). Remember that the questions do not include alcoholic beverages.

Please answer every question. If you have difficulty with a statement, then choose the response that is mostly right.

These questions refer to the past 12 months.

1. Have you used drugs other than those required for medical reasons?
  Yes
  No
2. Do you abuse more than one drug at a time?
  Yes
  No
3. Are you unable to stop using drugs when you want to?
  Yes
  No
4. Have you ever had blackouts or flashbacks as a result of drug use?
  Yes
  No
5. Do you ever feel bad or guilty about your drug use?
  Yes
  No
6. Does your spouse (or parents) ever complain about your involvement with drugs?
  Yes
  No
7. Have you neglected your family because of your use of drugs?
  Yes
  No
8. Have you engaged in illegal activities in order to obtain drugs?
  Yes
  No
9. Have you ever experienced withdrawal symptoms (felt sick) when you stopped taking drugs?
  Yes
  No
10. Have you had medical problems as a result of your drug use (e.g., memory loss, hepatitis, convulsions, bleeding)?
  Yes
  No

Please Note: This screening tool may be used to provide an initial assessment of possible substance abuse issues but is not intended to definitively diagnose any medical or emotional conditions. If you have concerns about your own drug use, you are strongly advised to consult a doctor or substance abuse professional regardless of the results of this screening tool. Please contact Phoenix House to get advice, a referral or if you have questions about this screening tool. Call 800-HELP-111 or send a confidential email to the Phoenix House team today. Click here.

Reproduced with permission from the author, Dr. Harvey A. Skinner, University of Toronto. The DAST is copyrighted by Dr. Skinner and the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.

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