DUDIT - Drug Use Disorders Identification Test
The Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) is a validated 11-question screening tool developed by Berman and colleagues to identify people who may have drug-related problems, including harmful use or dependence. Answer each question honestly based on your experience over the past year. Your total score and its interpretation appear instantly. This calculator is for screening purposes only and does not replace a clinical assessment.
What is the DUDIT?
The Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) is a validated 11-item self-report screening questionnaire developed by Berman, Bergman, Palmstierna, and Schlyter in 2005. It was designed as a drug-specific parallel to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and targets use of all drugs other than alcohol, including cannabis, stimulants, opioids, sedatives, and hallucinogens. The DUDIT has been validated in primary care, emergency, and addiction treatment settings across multiple countries and is widely used by clinicians and researchers to identify individuals who may benefit from brief intervention or more comprehensive assessment.
How the DUDIT is scored
The 11 items divide into three domains. Questions 1 to 4 cover the pattern of use: how often drugs are used, polydrug use, dose per session, and frequency of heavy intoxication. These four items each score 0 to 4 for a sub-total of up to 16 points. Questions 5 to 9 assess dependence symptoms: cravings, failure to meet responsibilities, morning-after use as an "eye-opener," guilt or remorse, and injury associated with drug use. Each scores 0 to 4, giving a sub-total of up to 20 points. Questions 10 and 11 measure social and medical consequences: concern from others and help-seeking behaviour. These two items use a 0-2-4 scale (No / Yes but not past year / Yes past year) for a sub-total of up to 8 points. Total scores therefore range from 0 to 44.
Interpreting your DUDIT score
A score of zero means no drug-related problems were detected. For men, a score of 6 or more indicates probable drug-related problems (either harmful use or dependence); for women the threshold is lower at 2 or more, reflecting the different sensitivity characteristics identified in the original validation study. Regardless of sex, a score of 25 or more is strongly associated with dependence on one or more drugs, with the original validation reporting a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 88% for this cutoff against DSM-IV dependence criteria. Scores are a guide, not a diagnosis: a positive screen means further evaluation by a qualified clinician is warranted.
Limitations of the DUDIT
The DUDIT relies on self-report, so results are affected by honesty and recall. It does not identify which specific substance is involved, nor does it capture the severity of harm from any single episode. It was developed in a Swedish clinical population and validated primarily in adult samples; applicability to adolescents or populations very different from the validation cohort may be limited. A positive screen is not a diagnosis of a substance use disorder: DSM-5 criteria require a structured clinical interview. The DUDIT is best used as a first step to identify who should receive a more thorough assessment, not as a standalone diagnostic tool.
DUDIT score interpretation
| Score range | Men | Women | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | No problems | No problems | No drug-related problems |
| 1-5 | Below threshold | Screen positive | Women: drug-related problems likely |
| 6-24 | Screen positive | Screen positive | Drug-related problems likely (both sexes) |
| 25-44 | Screen positive | Screen positive | Probable drug dependence (both sexes) |
Validated cutoff scores from Berman et al. (2005). The female threshold is lower because the original validation study found higher sensitivity at a lower cutoff for women.
Frequently asked questions
What does a DUDIT score of 0 mean?
A score of 0 means you answered "never" or "no" to all 11 questions, which indicates no drug-related problems detected by this screening tool. It does not necessarily mean your drug use is zero, but it does suggest your use pattern, if any, does not currently meet the threshold for concern according to the DUDIT.
Why is the threshold different for men and women?
The original validation study by Berman et al. found that a score of 2 or more was the optimal cutoff for women to achieve high sensitivity, while a cutoff of 6 or more performed best for men. Women tend to be more candid in self-report and may experience harms at lower levels of use, so a lower threshold is used to avoid missing cases.
What score indicates drug dependence?
A score of 25 or more, regardless of sex, is considered strongly indicative of dependence on one or more drugs. The original validation against DSM-IV dependence criteria found a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 88% at this threshold. If your score is 25 or above, a comprehensive clinical assessment is strongly recommended.
Does a positive DUDIT screen mean I am addicted?
No. A positive screen means your score is above the threshold that suggests drug-related problems are likely. It is a flag for further evaluation, not a diagnosis. A formal diagnosis of a substance use disorder requires a structured clinical interview using criteria from DSM-5 or ICD-11, carried out by a qualified health professional.
Which drugs does the DUDIT cover?
The DUDIT covers all drugs other than alcohol, including cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines and other stimulants, opioids (heroin, prescription painkillers), benzodiazepines and sedatives, hallucinogens, inhalants, and any other psychoactive substances. It does not assess tobacco or alcohol use; those are covered by separate validated tools (FTND and AUDIT, respectively).
Is the DUDIT accurate?
For identifying DSM-IV drug dependence, the DUDIT shows strong psychometric properties: Cronbach's alpha of 0.93 (excellent internal consistency) and, at the 25-point cutoff, 90% sensitivity and 88% specificity. For identifying any drug-related problem (harmful use or dependence combined), performance varies by setting and population, which is why clinical judgment should accompany the score.
Sources
- Berman AH, Bergman H, Palmstierna T, Schlyter F. Evaluation of the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) in criminal justice and detoxification settings. Eur Addict Res. 2005;11(1):22-31.
- Hildebrand M. Psychometric properties of the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) with substance abusers in outpatient and residential treatment. Eur Addict Res. 2015;21(3):147-154.