Not sure whether your drug use has become a problem? This free, confidential 11-question test follows the DSM-5 criteria clinicians use to diagnose substance use disorder. It works for any drug, including opioids, cocaine, meth, marijuana and prescription pills, and shows your result right away.
Admissions answers 24/7 at (866) 507-1048
Answer each question about the past 12 months. Nobody sees your answers but you, so be as honest as you can.
Question 1 of 12
Private by design: your answers stay in your browser. Nothing is sent or saved.
Every “Yes” is one sign of a substance use disorder (SUD). The DSM-5 rates severity by how many signs appear within the same 12 months:
| Signs | Severity | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | No disorder indicated | Doesn’t meet the threshold for SUD |
| 2–3 | Mild SUD | Early stage; often treated in standard outpatient care |
| 4–5 | Moderate SUD | Use is affecting control, responsibilities or health |
| 6–11 | Severe SUD | What most people call addiction; needs structured treatment |
The DSM-5 groups the 11 signs of substance use disorder into four areas:
Using more than you planned, failing to cut back, spending a lot of time on getting, using and recovering, and cravings. These are often the first signs people notice in themselves, and the easiest to explain away.
Missing work or obligations, conflict with people close to you, and dropping hobbies or friends who don’t use. Family members usually notice these first.
Using in dangerous situations such as driving, or continuing even though you know it’s harming your physical or mental health, such as worsening anxiety, depression, paranoia or heart problems.
Tolerance (needing more for the same effect) and withdrawal (feeling sick when it wears off). For a medication taken exactly as prescribed, these two don’t count toward addiction on their own.
| Substance | Common warning signs | Withdrawal risk |
|---|---|---|
| Opioids & fentanyl | Drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, “nodding off,” running out of pills early, doctor shopping | Very uncomfortable (aches, vomiting, insomnia). Overdose risk rises sharply after a break because tolerance drops. |
| Cocaine | Bursts of energy and talkativeness, nosebleeds, money going missing, binges followed by crashes | Depression, exhaustion, intense cravings |
| Meth | Staying awake for days, weight loss, skin picking, paranoia, dental problems | Severe fatigue, depression, cravings |
| Marijuana / THC | Daily use, needing it to sleep or relax, low motivation, using more potent products | Irritability, poor sleep, low appetite, cravings |
| Adderall & stimulants | Taking more than prescribed, buying pills, all-nighters, weight loss, anxiety | Crash, depression, exhaustion |
| Benzodiazepines | Using Xanax or Klonopin to get through every day, mixing with alcohol, refilling early | Can be life-threatening (seizures). Taper only under medical care. |
Worried about drinking too? Take our alcoholism test, based on the WHO AUDIT.
Doctors and counselors use several validated screening tools. This test follows the DSM-5 criteria directly, but you may come across these too:
None of these tools makes a diagnosis. A high score on any of them is a reason to talk to a professional.
No disorder indicated. If you use, know the risks. Much of the street supply, including pressed pills sold as Xanax, Percocet or Adderall, can contain fentanyl.
This is the best time to act. A conversation with a clinician and a flexible outpatient program are often enough to change course.
Get a professional assessment. Structured care such as IOP, with individual and group therapy, gives you support several days a week without leaving home.
Reach out now, and don’t quit opioids, benzos or alcohol abruptly on your own. Our admissions team answers 24/7, and a staff physician can assess you by phone, coordinate detox if you need it, and start you in our partial hospitalization program or IOP.
Zoe Behavioral Health is a Joint Commission–accredited outpatient addiction treatment center in Lake Forest, licensed by the California DHCS (#300413AP). Our drug rehab program includes:
Care is overseen by Medical Director Dr. Naficy, a board-certified family physician with 25+ years of experience, and Clinical Director Clint Kreider, MS.
The questions follow the 11 criteria clinicians use to diagnose substance use disorder in the DSM-5, so a high score reflects the same signs a clinician would look for. It is still a self-screening, not a diagnosis. Only a licensed professional can diagnose a substance use disorder after a full assessment.
No. A substance use disorder requires at least 2 of the 11 signs within the same 12-month period. One sign on its own is worth noticing, but it doesn’t meet the threshold.
Building tolerance to a prescribed medication, or having withdrawal when you stop it, is a normal physical response and doesn’t count toward a substance use disorder by itself. The other signs, such as taking more than prescribed, running out early, cravings or using despite problems, do count.
Yes. Cannabis use disorder is a recognized diagnosis in the DSM-5, assessed with the same 11 criteria as other substances. Daily use, today’s high-THC products and using to cope with stress or sleep all raise the risk.
You can answer based on what you’ve seen, and it can help you organize your concerns. But you can’t see everything, such as cravings or failed attempts to quit, so the score may be lower than the real picture. Our admissions team regularly talks with worried family members and can explain how to approach the conversation and how family therapy fits into treatment.
The DAST-10 (Drug Abuse Screening Test) is a 10-question yes/no screening tool used in clinics. It measures how much drug use is affecting your life. This test follows the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria instead, so its result maps directly to the mild, moderate and severe ranges a clinician would use.
Yes. The test runs entirely in your browser. Your answers and score are not sent to us or saved anywhere. If you call, the conversation is confidential and protected by HIPAA and federal confidentiality rules for addiction treatment records.
A confidential call doesn’t commit you to anything. We’ll listen, check your insurance for free, and set up a phone assessment with a staff physician. Admissions answers 24/7.
