Drug Use Screening Tests

Drug use screening tests are questionnaires you answer about your drug use. Drugs are chemical substances that can change how your body and mind work. They include prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, tobacco, and illegal drugs.

Drug use can cause problems in your work, relationships, and health. Drug use can include taking illegal drugs or misusing prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Misusing medicines means that you are taking them for a nonmedical reason, such as to get high.

It can include taking more than your prescribed dose or taking someone else's medicine. It can also mean taking medicine in a different way than you are supposed to, such as crushing and snorting tablets. Substance use disorder (SUD) is a treatable, chronic mental disorder.

The disorder may affect your brain and behavior. Symptoms of SUD include a pattern of using drugs or alcohol, even if it causes a problem in your life. The most severe form of SUD is addiction.

If you have an addiction, you may continue to use the substance even though you know it can cause you harm. A drug use screening test can help your health care provider check for a substance use disorder, and if you have one, make an effective treatment plan for you. Commonly used drugs include: Marijuana.; Prescription opioid pain relievers, which include oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and codeine.; Club drugs, which are drugs that are most often used by young adults at bars, concerts, nightclubs, and parties.

Some types include: Methamphetamines, which are stimulant drugs.; Hallucinogens, which are drugs that cause hallucinations (seeing, hearing, and/or feeling things that are not real). They include LSD and Ecstasy (MDMA).; ; Cocaine, another type of stimulant drug.; Heroin, an illegal opioid.; Substance use can also refer to the misuse of other substances, including alcohol and inhalants. Inhalants contain substances that people inhale (breathe in) to get high.

They are often products easily bought and can be found in the home or workplace, such as paint thinner and certain types of glue.

Why this test is done

You may need a screening test if you have symptoms or behaviors that may be a sign that you are at risk for a substance use disorder. These include:

• An urgent need to take the drug on a daily or regular basis.
• Hiding your drug use from others.
• Making excuses to take the drug.
• Continuing to take the drug even if it causes problems in your personal relationships, work, school, and/or health.
• Building up a tolerance to the drug. That means you need more and more of the drug to feel its effects.

Many people who use or misuse drugs don't know or want to admit they have a problem. If your family, friends, or co-workers express concerns about your drug use, talk to your provider about getting a screening. Your provider may also recommend a screening if they notice signs and symptoms of a substance use disorder.

How to prepare

You don't need any special preparations for a drug use screening test.

Other names for this test

Drug Abuse Screen Test (DAST); DAST-10; Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use (TAPS), substance abuse screening; Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT); Cut down Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (CAGE) tool; Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble (CRAFFT) Screening Tool