The Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) is an 11-item screen developed by Berman, Bergman, Palmstierna, and Schlyter (2005) at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. It was designed as a companion to the AUDIT (alcohol screen) to identify individuals with drug-related problems. It has been validated in multiple countries and clinical settings with good sensitivity and specificity.

What drugs does the DUDIT cover?

The DUDIT covers all drugs other than alcohol, including: cannabis/marijuana, stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine, methamphetamine), opioids (heroin, fentanyl, misused prescription opioids), benzodiazepines (non-prescribed use), hallucinogens (LSD, psilocybin), inhalants, and any non-prescribed or misused prescription medication. Alcohol is covered by the separate AUDIT instrument.

Why are cutoff scores different for men and women?

Research shows women develop drug-related problems at lower consumption levels than men, likely due to differences in body composition, metabolism, and neurobiological responses. The lower female cutoff (≥2 vs. ≥6 for men) ensures adequate sensitivity for detecting drug problems in women. The dependence cutoff (≥25) is the same for both sexes.

Can the DUDIT diagnose a substance use disorder?

No — the DUDIT is a screening tool that identifies individuals likely to have drug-related problems. A positive screen should be followed by comprehensive clinical assessment (using DSM-5 criteria for Substance Use Disorder) by a qualified professional. Screening tools prioritize sensitivity (catching most cases) and may produce false positives.

How often should the DUDIT be administered?

In primary care: annually during routine health assessments, or when clinical suspicion exists. In substance abuse treatment: at intake and periodically during treatment to track progress. In emergency departments: when drug-related presentations are suspected. Post-treatment: at follow-up visits to monitor relapse risk. The instrument is brief enough for repeated administration.

Where can I get help for drug use problems?

SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7, English/Spanish). SAMHSA Treatment Locator: findtreatment.gov. Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741. Narcotics Anonymous: na.org. Your primary care physician or employer's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can also provide confidential referrals. Treatment works — most people with substance use disorders recover with appropriate support.

DUDIT (Drug Use Disorders Identification Test) Calculator

Complete the DUDIT screening questionnaire to identify hazardous drug use, harmful use, and potential drug dependence. 11-item validated assessment.

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer: The DUDIT is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. All positive screens should be followed by comprehensive clinical assessment. If you are struggling with drug use, please seek help from a qualified healthcare provider or call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357.

1. How often do you use drugs other than alcohol?

2. Do you use more than one type of drug on the same occasion?

3. How many times do you take drugs on a typical day when you use drugs?

4. How often are you influenced heavily by drugs?

5. Over the past year, have you felt that your longing for drugs was so strong that you could not resist it?

6. Has it happened over the past year that you have not been able to stop taking drugs once you started?

7. How often over the past year have you taken drugs and then neglected to do something you should have done?

8. How often over the past year have you needed to take a drug the morning after heavy drug use the day before?

9. How often over the past year have you had guilt feelings or a bad conscience because you used drugs?

10. Have you or anyone else been hurt (mentally or physically) because you used drugs?

11. Has a relative or a friend, a doctor or a nurse, or anyone else been worried about your drug use or said to you that you should stop using drugs?

Quick Clear:

DUDIT Total Score

0 / 44

No drug use identified

Interpretation

No drug use identified

No intervention needed.

Frequency & Amount (Q1–4)

0 / 16

Drug use patterns and typical consumption

Dependence Symptoms (Q5–9)

0 / 20

Craving, loss of control, neglect, morning use, guilt

Drug-Related Harm (Q10–11)

0 / 8

Physical/mental harm and concern from others

Score Interpretation Guide

Score Range	Male Cutoff	Female Cutoff	Interpretation	Action
0	—	—	No drug-related problems	None needed
1–5	≥6 (harmful)	≥2 (harmful)	Low risk	Brief advice
6–24	≥6	≥2	Hazardous/harmful use	Brief intervention
25–44	≥25	≥25	Dependence likely	Specialist referral

Item Response Summary

Q#	Domain	Response
1	Frequency	Never
2	Frequency	Never
3	Frequency	0
4	Frequency	Never
5	Dependence	Never
6	Dependence	Never
7	Dependence	Never
8	Dependence	Never
9	Dependence	Never
10	Harm	No
11	Harm	No

Planning notes, formulas, and examples

About the DUDIT (Drug Use Disorders Identification Test) Calculator

The Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) is an 11-item self-report screening instrument developed by Berman et al. (2005) to identify individuals with drug-related problems, including hazardous use, harmful use, and drug dependence. It is the drug-use parallel to the widely-used AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and has been validated across multiple clinical populations and cultural settings.

The DUDIT covers three domains: drug use frequency and amount (questions 1–4), drug dependence symptoms (questions 5–9), and drug-related problems and harm (questions 10–11). Scoring ranges from 0 to 44, with gender-specific cutoffs — men scoring ≥6 and women scoring ≥2 likely have drug-related problems, while scores ≥25 for either sex suggest drug dependence requiring comprehensive assessment.

This screening tool is widely used in primary care, emergency departments, substance abuse treatment programs, criminal justice settings, and employee assistance programs. A positive screen should always be followed by a thorough clinical assessment — the DUDIT identifies risk but does not diagnose specific substance use disorders. The tool addresses all illicit substances and misuse of prescription medications.

When This Page Helps

Early identification of drug use problems enables timely intervention before consequences worsen. The DUDIT provides a standardized, validated screening approach that can be administered in under 5 minutes. Its domain structure (frequency, dependence, harm) helps clinicians understand the nature and severity of drug use problems and tailor their response accordingly.

How to Use the Inputs

Answer each of the 11 questions honestly based on your drug use over the past year.
"Drugs" refers to any illicit substance or misuse of prescription medications — not alcohol (use AUDIT for alcohol).
Select the response that best describes your experience for each question.
Review the total score and interpretation.
Note the domain subscores (frequency, dependence, harm) for areas of concern.
Use the Reset button to clear all responses if needed.

Formula used

DUDIT Score = Sum of all 11 items

Questions 1–9: scored 0–4 (Never to Daily/Almost Daily)
Questions 10–11: scored 0, 2, or 4 (No / Yes but not this year / Yes this year)

Maximum score: 44

Cutoffs:
• Men: ≥6 = probable drug-related problems; ≥25 = probable dependence
• Women: ≥2 = probable drug-related problems; ≥25 = probable dependence

Example Calculation

Result: DUDIT Score: 12/44 — Hazardous/harmful drug use

Score breakdown: Frequency/Amount (Q1-4) = 6/16, Dependence (Q5-9) = 2/20, Harm (Q10-11) = 4/8. Above the male cutoff of 6, indicating probable drug-related problems. The elevated harm score (Q11: others have expressed concern) reinforces the need for brief intervention and further clinical assessment.

Tips & Best Practices

Be completely honest — underreporting prevents accurate screening and delays helpful intervention.
"Drugs" includes cannabis, amphetamines, opioids, benzodiazepines (non-prescribed use), cocaine, hallucinogens, and any other illicit substance.
Prescription medications count only if used in ways other than prescribed (higher doses, more frequent, for non-medical reasons).
The DUDIT screens for drug use only — use the AUDIT for alcohol screening.
Gender-specific cutoffs reflect that women typically develop drug-related problems at lower consumption levels.
A score of 0 doesn't guarantee no drug problems — it reflects the past year only.

DUDIT Development and Validation

The DUDIT was developed by Berman et al. at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and published in 2005. It was specifically designed as the drug-use counterpart to the AUDIT alcohol screen. Validation studies across Sweden, Germany, the UK, and the US demonstrated good psychometric properties: internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.80–0.93), test-retest reliability (r = 0.85), and concurrent validity with DSM-IV substance use disorder diagnoses.

DUDIT vs. Other Drug Screening Tools

The DUDIT is one of several validated drug screening instruments. The DAST-10 (Drug Abuse Screening Test) is another common screen with 10 yes/no questions. The ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test) by WHO covers all substance types. Each has strengths: DUDIT parallels the AUDIT format (familiar to clinicians), DAST-10 is shorter, and ASSIST covers all substances including alcohol and tobacco in one instrument.

Brief Interventions for Drug Use

For scores in the hazardous range (6–24), brief interventions using motivational interviewing techniques are recommended. The FRAMES model (Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu of options, Empathy, Self-efficacy) provides structure. Brief interventions show moderate effect sizes for reducing drug use in primary care settings. For scores suggesting dependence (≥25), referral to specialized substance use disorder treatment is appropriate.

Sources & Methodology

Last updated: March 28, 2026

Methodology

This worksheet totals the standard DUDIT items and keeps the screening bands visible for comparison. It is a substance-use screening aid, not a diagnostic interview or treatment directive.

Sources

DUDIT validation study (Berman et al.) — Original Drug Use Disorders Identification Test validation paper.
Substance-use screening tools (EMCDDA) — Reference context for drug-use screening questionnaires.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) is an 11-item screen developed by Berman, Bergman, Palmstierna, and Schlyter (2005) at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. It was designed as a companion to the AUDIT (alcohol screen) to identify individuals with drug-related problems. It has been validated in multiple countries and clinical settings with good sensitivity and specificity.
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7, English/Spanish). SAMHSA Treatment Locator: findtreatment.gov. Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741. Narcotics Anonymous: na.org. Your primary care physician or employer's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can also provide confidential referrals. Treatment works — most people with substance use disorders recover with appropriate support.