DAST-10 · 3 minutes

Drug use screener (DAST-10)

Reflect on the last 12 months — non-medical use of any drug excluding alcohol (prescription medications used non-medically, illicit drugs, OTC). Result categorises severity and points to the right level of intervention.

← All self-assessments

1 of 100% complete
Question 1

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

Educational tool — not a diagnosis. Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10), Skinner 1982. Brief structured screener with strong psychometric properties for substance use disorders.

Frequently asked

Plain-language answers about drug use, this screener, and what evaluation costs at a Class A hospital in China.

What does my DAST-10 score mean?
0 no problems; 1–2 low level — monitor; 3–5 moderate level — further investigation; 6–8 substantial — assessment + treatment; 9–10 severe — intensive assessment + treatment.
Is treatment confidential in China for international patients?
Yes within the standard scope of medical confidentiality. Class A psychiatry / addiction medicine departments treat international patients with the same confidentiality protections as domestic patients.
What treatments are available?
Class A academic psychiatry departments offer medication-assisted treatment (buprenorphine, naltrexone for opioid use disorder), structured behavioural therapy, family-based programmes, and referral pathways to inpatient detox if needed.

About this screener

Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10), Skinner 1982. Brief structured screener with strong psychometric properties for substance use disorders.

What this screener covers

  • Substance use disorders(ICD-10 F19)

Medical review

Reviewed by Panda Touring Care medical team (Addiction medicine coordinator review) · last reviewed 2025-04-01

This screener is an educational tool. If you are in crisis, contact local emergency services. Sudden cessation of certain substances (benzodiazepines, GHB, very heavy daily opioid use) can be medically dangerous — supervised withdrawal is warranted at higher dependence levels.