What are drug use screening tests?
Drug use screening tests are questionnaires designed to find out if you are abusing drugs. Drug abuse is a pattern of using drugs that can cause serious problems in your work, relationships, and health. Drug abuse can include taking illegal drugs or misusing legal drugs. Misuse means using the drugs for a nonmedical reason, such as getting high, or taking more than the prescribed dose. It can also mean taking someone else's medicine or taking medicine in a different way than you are supposed to, such as crushing and snorting tablets.
Drug abuse is a disease that can make you physically and mentally dependent on drugs. A drug use screening test can help your provider make an effective treatment plan for you.
Commonly abused drugs include:
- Marijuana
- Prescription opioid pain relievers, which include oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and codeine
- Heroin, an illegal opioid
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamines
- Hallucinogens, which are drugs that cause hallucinations (seeing, hearing, and/or feeling things that are not real). They include LSD and Ecstasy (MDMA).
Drug abuse may also be called drug addiction or substance abuse. Substance abuse can also refer to the abuse of other substances including alcohol and inhalants. Inhalants are household products, such as paint thinner and certain types of glue, that contain substances that affect perception and mood when inhaled.
Other names: Drug Abuse Screen Test (DAST); DAST-10; 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
What are they used for?
Drug use screening tests are used to diagnose drug abuse. Some tests can also show if you are at low, moderate, or high risk for complications from drug abuse.
Why do I need a drug use screening test?
You may need a screening test if you have symptoms of drug abuse. 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 abuse 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 health care provider about getting a screening. Your provider may also recommend a screening if they notice signs and symptoms of the disorder.
What happens during a drug use screening test?
Drug use screening may be done by your primary care provider or a mental health provider. A mental health provider is a health care professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health problems. Some mental health providers specialize in treating drug abuse and similar disorders. Most of these questionnaires are also available online for self-testing.
There are different types of drug use screening tests. But they each include questions about your drug use and how it affects your life. The most commonly used drug abuse screening tests are:
- Drug Abuse Screen Test (DAST, also known as DAST-10). This test contains 10 yes or no questions about how much and how often you take drugs. It also asks if the drugs are causing problems in your life and health. The answers are scored on a point system. A score of 8 or more may indicate a drug problem.
- NIDA Drug Use Screening Tool, also known as the NIDA Quick Screen. This test, from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), contains questions about how often you use prescription drugs, illegal drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. There is one multiple choice question for each substance. The answers range from "never" to "daily." If you use any of the substances more often than never, it may mean you have a substance abuse problem.
- NIDA Modified Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening (NM ASSIST). It asks more in-depth questions about the frequency and type of drugs used. It is scored on a point system. The higher your score, the more at risk you are.
- Cut-down Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (CAGE). This contains the following yes or no questions:
- Have you ever felt the need to cut-down on your drug use?
- Do you ever feel annoyed when people criticize your drug use?
- Have you ever felt embarrassed or guilty about your drug use?
- Eye-opener: Have you ever used drugs first thing in the morning?
- Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble (CRAFFT). This test is designed for teens and includes the following yes or no questions about drug and alcohol use:
- Have you ever ridden in a car driven by someone (including yourself) who was high or had been using alcohol or drugs?
- Do you ever use alcohol or drugs to relax, feel better about yourself, or fit in?
- Do you ever use alcohol/drugs while you are alone?
- Do you ever forget things you did while using alcohol or drugs?
- Do your family or friends ever tell you that you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?
- Have you gotten into trouble while you were using alcohol or drugs?
These questionnaires may be used along with an approach called Screening, Brief intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). SBIRT is targeted to developing short-term counseling and educational strategies to change unhealthy drug use. If your test shows you have or are at risk for a serious drug problem, a long-term treatment plan may be recommended.
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
You don't need any special preparations for a drug use screening test.
Are there any risks to the test?
There is no risk in taking a questionnaire.
What do the results mean?
Results may show whether you are abusing drugs and the severity of the problem. The results can help your provider develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
Is there anything else I need to know about drug use screening tests?
Treatment for drug abuse depends on the type of drug and the severity of abuse. Treatment options include:
- Brief or long-term counseling from a mental health provider who specializes in treating drug abuse
- Support groups. There are different approaches and formats to drug abuse support groups. Talk with your provider to find a group and approach that's right for you.Medication-assisted treatment.
- Medication-assisted treatment. Certain medications can help establish normal brain function and decrease cravings. This may help prevent a relapse. Medications can also make it safer to handle the unpleasant and sometimes dangerous symptoms of withdrawal (symptoms that can happen when you cut back or stop taking drugs).
- Residential treatment programs. If you have a more serious drug problem, you may be helped by a stay in a facility that specializes in treating drug abuse. These facilities offer a range of treatment services. Stays can last anywhere from one month to a year, depending on your condition.
More severe cases of drug abuse, such as a drug overdose, may require emergency treatment in a hospital.
References
- Addiction Hope [Internet]. Addiction Hope; c2021. Assessment Tools for Addiction Screening; 2017 Jun 26 [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.addictionhope.com/blog/assessment-tools-addiction-screening
- Addiction-Treatment: An American Addiction Centers Resource [Internet]. Addiction-Treatment.com; c2021. Inpatient and Residential Rehab; [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://addiction-treatment.com/treatment/inpatient-residential
- American Addiction Centers [Internet]. Drug Abuse.com; c2021. Drug Withdrawal; [updated 2021 Feb 26; cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://drugabuse.com/drug-withdrawal
- HealthData.gov [Internet]. Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; NIDA Drug Use Screening Tool API; [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://healthdata.gov/dataset/nida-drug-use-screening-tool-api
- Johns Hopkins Medicine [Internet]. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University; c2021. Health: Substance Abuse/Chemical Dependency; [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/substance-abuse-chemical-dependency
- Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998–2021. Mental health providers: Tips on finding one; 2017 May 16 [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/in-depth/mental-health-providers/art-20045530
- Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck & Co. Inc.; c2021. Substance Use Disorders; [updated 2020 Dec; cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/mental-health-disorders/substance-related-disorders/substance-use-disorders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): NIDA CTN Common Data Elements: Instrument: Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10); [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://cde.drugabuse.gov/instrument/e9053390-ee9c-9140-e040-bb89ad433d69
- National Institute on Drug Abuse [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): NIDA CTN Common Data Elements: Module: Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10); [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://cde.drugabuse.gov/instrument/e9053390-ee9c-9140-e040-bb89ad433d69/module/e9053390-eea5-9140-e040-bb89ad433d69
- National Institute on Drug Abuse [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; NIDA Drug Screening Tool: NIDA Modified Assist (NM Assist); [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://archives.drugabuse.gov/nmassist/step/0
- National Institute on Drug Abuse [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; NIDA Drug Screening Tool: NIDA Modified Assist (NM Assist): Quick Results; [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://archives.drugabuse.gov/nmassist/quick-result
- National Institute on Drug Abuse [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Opioid Facts for Teens: FAQs About Opioids; [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/opioid-facts-teens/faqs-about-opioids
- National Institute on Drug Abuse [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction Drug Facts; 2019 Jan [cited 2021 Apr 18]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction
- National Institute on Drug Abuse [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Understanding Drug Use and Addiction Drug Facts; [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction
- SBIRT Oregon [Internet]. OHSU Family Medicine; c2021. Assist Screening Tool; [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: http://www.sbirtoregon.org/wp-content/uploads/Modified-ASSIST-English-pdf.pdf
- SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [Internet]. Rockville (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; About Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT); [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/sbirt/about
- SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [Internet]. Rockville (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in Behavioral Healthcare; 2011 Apr 1 [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sbirtwhitepaper_0.pdf
- South Carolina: Healthy Connections: Medicaid [Internet]. Columbia (SC): South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services; Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT); [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.scdhhs.gov/organizations/screening-brief-intervention-and-referral-treatment-sbirt
- UF Health: University of Florida Health [Internet]. Gainesville (FL): University of Florida Health; c2021. Substance use disorder: Overview; [updated 2021 Mar 2; cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://ufhealth.org/substance-use-disorder
- University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2021. Health Encyclopedia: Do You Have a Substance Abuse Problem?; [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=42&ContentID=SubstanceAbuseCAGE
- University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2021. Health Encyclopedia: Do You Have a Substance Abuse Problem?: Your Results; [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=42&ContentID=SubstanceAbuseCAGE&SubstanceAbuseMRA_Parameters=Y,Y,N,N,2
- USC Geriatric Workforce Enhance Program (GWEP) [Internet]. Alhambra (CA): Keck School of Medicine of USC; c2021. DAST-10: Drug Abuse Screening Test; [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://gwep.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DAST-10-drug-abuse-screening-test.pdf
- Very Well Mind [Internet]. New York: About, Inc.; c2021. Drug Testing and Drug Screening for Teens; 2020 Dec 7 [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.verywellmind.com/drug-testing-and-drug-screening-2634382
- Very Well Mind [Internet]. New York: About, Inc.; c2021. Substance Use Overview; 2020 Mar 19 [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.verywellmind.com/substance-use-4014640
- Very Well Mind [Internet]. New York: About, Inc.; c2021. What Is Ecstasy?; 2020 Jul 28 [cited 2021 Mar 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-ecstasy-22091
FAQs
How do you score a drug screening test? ›
Scoring and interpretation: A score of “1” is given for each YES response, except for items 4,5, and 7, for which a NO response is given a score of “1.” Based on data from a heterogeneous psychiatric patient population, cutoff scores of 6 through 11 are considered to be optimal for screening for substance use disorders ...
How long will drugs show in a urine test? ›Stimulants including cocaine, meth, and ADHD medications are detectable for about 2 or 3 days. Benzodiazepines and MDMA generally flag a urine test for up to 4 days after last dose. Marijuana stays in the system a bit longer, with amounts being detectable for between 1 and 7 days after last use.
What is the most common method used in drug screening? ›Urine testing, also known as urinalysis, is the least invasive type of drug testing. It's also the most commonly used and the approved method of testing for federally mandated drug screening. Urine testing involves checking samples for the presence of metabolites.
What is the most widely used assessment tool for addiction? ›The SASSI-3 (Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory, 3rd Edition), is one of the most widely used proprietary screening tools in the United States.
What is the cutoff to pass a drug test? ݤ 40.87 What are the cutoff concentrations for drug tests? 15 ng/mL.
What to say if you fail a drug test? ›Common excuses for failing a drug test
It must have been something I ate. I kissed my boyfriend after he smoked a joint. My dentist gave me something strong for a sore tooth.
Urine drug screen results usually come back within a few days or on the same day. If a result is positive, a person may need to take a second test for confirmation. This may be a GC-MS test, which gives more accurate results. The person who carried out the test or a medical review officer will explain the results.
Can a lab tell if it's synthetic urine? ›Urine samples go through quality checks and look for drug traces. If the synthetic urine is similar to the real one, the lab technicians can't tell the difference. If the urine is free from traces of the drug, you will get a negative drug test.
What color should your urine be when taking a drug test? ›The most optimal color for your urine is a pale yellow.
What should you not do before a urine test? ›- Avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco and strenuous exercise for 24 hours prior to collection and up to collection time. - Do not consume avocados, bananas, eggplant, pineapples, plums, tomatoes or walnuts for 48 hours before the test.
What is the least accurate drug test? ›
They may be more intrusive than other methods, but blood tests are well-regarded as accurate and comprehensive. Hair tests and sweat tests can be particularly poor when it comes to accuracy. External contact with a drug or even the smoke from a drug can throw a false positive.
What is the most sensitive drug test? ›Hair testing.
Drug-testing hair is a simple and noninvasive way to detect drug use over a greater length of time, most effective when testing for regular use of drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines and opiates. These drugs can become undetectable in urine after three to four days.
There are four levels of addiction: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. We will discuss each level in-depth and provide tips for overcoming addiction. Most people who try drugs or engage in risky behaviors don't become addicted.
What are the 4 pillars of addiction? ›According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, these four pillars are health, home, purpose and community.
What instrument is used for drug screening? ›Fourier Transform – Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR)
The Drug Chemistry section has three FT-IR instruments that are used for evidence analysis. FT-IR testing is considered confirmatory because it allows for a controlled substance to be conclusively identified.
These screening tests tend to be fairly specific and highly sensitive for the drugs being analyzed. If a non-negative sample is detected, labs utilize technologies like gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to confirm the presence or absence of specific drugs, thereby preventing false positives.
What is the difference between screen and confirm on a drug test? ›Confirmation Testing and Results
Confirmation testing takes longer to complete than screening because the instrument is looking for individual drugs and drug metabolites. Confirming positive results can take up to 24-48 additional hours after the screening results have been completed.
Drug Detection Duration
Cannabis: 2 to 28 days depending on how frequently the person uses the drug. The more often you use it, the longer it's likely to remain in your system. Benzodiazepines: 3 days if you are using them as prescribed. 4 to 6 weeks after extended use or misuse of greater quantities.
Can You Still Get Hired If You Fail a Drug Test? For the most part, no. If the test result is proven to be legitimate (especially after multiple retests), you will most likely lose your job. If drug testing was part of a screening application, the company will probably revoke your job offer.
Can you retake a failed drug test? ›In most cases, you are entitled to request a retest. However, most drug testing protocols require the lab to retest the same sample. While this is helpful in situations where there was contamination, the better option is to provide an entirely new sample, if that is allowed.
Does a failed drug test show up on a background check? ›
With a background check, employers are able to see any public record on file for the recruiting individual. Prior criminal convictions, including drug charges, are visible on a background check, but what is not visible is any prior failed drug test.
What does green mean on a urine test? ›Green urine sometimes occurs during urinary tract infections caused by pseudomonas bacteria.
Does a faint line mean positive drug test? ›The presence of a test line, regardless of how faint, indicates a negative result. Even if there is some drug in the urine, if the line is present, the urine does not have the MINIMUM amount of drug needed to consider it positive, so it is considered negative.
Do drug tests test for synthetic? ›Synthetic urine is an artificially synthesized substance that simulates the composition, chemical properties, and appearance of human urine. In other words, it is “fake urine.” Synthetic urine will work for drug tests because most laboratories do not perform genetic analyses on specimens.
What if your pee is clear? ›If a person experiences clear urine, they do not usually need to take any further action. Clear urine is a sign of good hydration and a healthy urinary tract. However, if they consistently notice clear urine and also have extreme or unusual thirst, it is best to speak to a doctor.
Why do they tell you not to flush the toilet after a urine test? ›This is done to ensure the integrity of the specimen; if the donor has attempted to dilute, adulterate, or tamper with their specimen by scooping water from the toilet bowl, it will be evident to the collector.
What does clear urine tell you? ›Transparent. Colorless urine may indicate over-hydration. While not as dangerous as dehydration, over-hydration can dilute essential salts, such as electrolytes, creating a problematic chemical imbalance in the blood.
How do you know if you passed a urine drug test? ›Urine drug screen results usually come back within a few days or on the same day. If a result is positive, a person may need to take a second test for confirmation. This may be a GC-MS test, which gives more accurate results. The person who carried out the test or a medical review officer will explain the results.
What do the colors mean on a urine test? ›Yellow and orange colors indicate a positive test result, while any other color is reported as a negative result.
What does confirmation level mean on a drug test? ›It just means the specimen did not test negative when it was tested for many different compounds. At this point, the specimen must go in to confirmation testing. Confirmation Testing and Results. As an accredited forensic toxicology laboratory, we are required to confirm all results that we report out as positive.
How far back does a 10 panel urine test go? ›
Drug Detection Duration
Cannabis: 2 to 28 days depending on how frequently the person uses the drug. The more often you use it, the longer it's likely to remain in your system. Benzodiazepines: 3 days if you are using them as prescribed. 4 to 6 weeks after extended use or misuse of greater quantities.
Urine samples go through quality checks and look for drug traces. If the synthetic urine is similar to the real one, the lab technicians can't tell the difference. If the urine is free from traces of the drug, you will get a negative drug test.
What color should your urine be when taking a drug test? ›The most optimal color for your urine is a pale yellow.
What does green mean on a urine test? ›Green urine sometimes occurs during urinary tract infections caused by pseudomonas bacteria.
Is clear Pee good? ›Clear urine is a sign of good hydration and a healthy urinary tract. However, if they consistently notice clear urine and also have extreme or unusual thirst, it is best to speak to a doctor.
What does a clear urine test mean? ›Clear urine indicates that you're drinking more than the daily recommended amount of water. While being hydrated is a good thing, drinking too much water can rob your body of electrolytes.
What does clear urine indicate? ›Transparent. Colorless urine may indicate over-hydration. While not as dangerous as dehydration, over-hydration can dilute essential salts, such as electrolytes, creating a problematic chemical imbalance in the blood.
What is the difference between screening test and confirmatory test? ›Compared to screening, confirmation testing has many advantages. LC-MS/GC-MS testing is far more sensitive and specific than qualitative screening, so confirmation results are much less likely to produce false negative or false positive results.
What is the difference between a screening drug test and a confirmatory drug test? ›A confirmatory drug test is a second test conducted after one or multiple drugs have been detected during an initial drug screening test. The presence of the drugs indicated by a positive screening result must be confirmed in a laboratory.
How sensitive are lab drug tests? ›These screening tests tend to be fairly specific and highly sensitive for the drugs being analyzed. If a non-negative sample is detected, labs utilize technologies like gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to confirm the presence or absence of specific drugs, thereby preventing false positives.
What should you not do before a urine test? ›
- Avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco and strenuous exercise for 24 hours prior to collection and up to collection time. - Do not consume avocados, bananas, eggplant, pineapples, plums, tomatoes or walnuts for 48 hours before the test.
How long will delta 8 stay in your system for a drug test? ›While delta-8 THC's effects last up to five hours in your body, the metabolites can stay in your system for up to 90 days. Luckily, the most common tests can detect metabolites for only a few days. However, if you are a chronic user, the test can yield positive even after 30 days.