If you or a loved one is concerned about your consumption of alcohol and/or drugs but are unsure whether or not you you want to seek outside help then perhaps one or both of these tools can help you in the decision process. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) is a 22-question self-test to help you become aware of your use or abuse of alcohol. This test specifically focuses on alcohol use, and not on the use of other drugs. The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) was developed in 1982 and is still an excellent screening tool. It is a 28-item self-report scale that consists of items that parallel those of the MAST. The DAST has exhibited valid psychometric properties and has been found to be a sensitive screening instrument for the abuse of drugs other than alcohol.
Below are links that will give you access to each of these tools. Please know these tools are not sufficient to diagnose abuse or dependency but are helpful. If you are interested in a more comprehensive evaluation or are concerned and would like to begin treatment please do not hesitate to contact us.
To score your answers in the MAST please refer to the instructions at the bottom of the pdf document. To score the DAST follow these instructions. Add 1 point for every “yes”, except for items 4 & 5 where you add 1 point for each “no”. Scores that are 6 or higher indicate that there is a high likelihood of abuse or dependency.
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my God, i thought you were going to chip in with some decisive insght at the end there, not leave it with ‘we leave it to you to decide’.
The tools that we have made available are self-assessment screening tools that are designed to help encourage self examination and assist in one’s decision making process about whether or not they feel it is time to seek help. If you would like to undertake an evaluation by one of our staff who could walk you through the diagnostic indicators to more accurately establish whether or not you suffer from substance abuse or dependency we would be happy to schedule that with you. Please give us a call at 732-797-1444.
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