What substances does this tool screen for?

Cannabis, cocaine, heroin, narcotic pain medications, sedatives, stimulants.

Is this tool appropriate to use with people with HIV?

Yes, the DAST-10 has been administered to people with HIV and has been validated within this population.

Who administers and scores the tool?

• A staff person or health care provider who has been trained to administer the DAST-10, reading questions as written and not providing any additional information until after completion.
• Scoring should be completed by a trained staff person or healthcare provider.

Has this tool been validated?

Yes, the DAST-10 tool has been evaluated against the DAST-28 and DAST-20. While results vary, studies have found that sensitivity ranges from 41% to 95%, and specificity from 68% to 99%, depending on the positive cut-off used while scoring.

Please see reference list: 18, 19, and 20