DUDIT Calculator

The DUDIT calculator, short for the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test, is a convenient tool to help you identify drug-related problems, specifically whether you have harmful drug habits or a possible dependence on drugs.

According to National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 31.9 million people are illegal drug users in the United States. Research shows that the best way to help someone with drug-related problems is to identify the problem early and intervene with appropriate means. Therefore, it doesn't matter whether you are a medical professional, taking a patient's standard medical history, or a person concerned about drug-related problems — the DUDIT calculator is a concise and straightforward tool to help you with screening. Come along to learn how to use the DUDIT calculator, interpret the DUDIT score, the difference between the DUDIT and AUDIT calculator and more!

The Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) is an instrument for identifying individuals who may have risky drug habits, are heavily dependent on drugs, or do not have drug-related problems. The test was composed as a corresponding tool to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), for the first stage assessment of drug-related problems. The DUDIT contains 11 questions which address issues such as:

1. The frequency of drug use per week/month;
2. Polydrug use (combining drugs, or using more than one drug, at the same time, or consecutively);
3. The frequency of drug use per day;
4. Heavy use of a drug or drugs;
5. Craving (a strong urge to continue substance abuse);
6. Loss of control (inability to stop taking a drug once started);
7. Prioritization of drug use over other duties;
8. The need to take a drug the morning after heavy drug use, also called "Eye-opener."
9. Guilt feelings over drug use;
10. Harmful use (physically or mentally hurting others due to drug use); and
11. Concern from others.

You can use the DUDIT calculator (whether you're a medical professional or a layperson) who may have concerns regarding drug-related habits.

To use the DUDIT calculator, all you have to do is answer questions about drug use as correctly and honestly as possible by selecting which answer you believe applies to you the most. The calculator will identify if you may have drug-related problems and give you an appropriate recommendation. The drugs that the instrument accounts for include:

• Cannabis;
• Amphetamines;
• Opiates;
• Hallucinogens;
• Solvents/inhalants;
• GHB and others (anabolic steroids, laughing gas, amyl nitrate, anticholinergic compounds);
• Sedatives/sleeping pills; and
• Painkillers.

⚠️ Note that if you take pills in the recommended dosage that has been prescribed by a medical professional, they do not count as drugs in this context. Pills only count as drugs if:

• You consume a higher dosage than prescribed by a medical professional, or more often than recommended.
• You consume them to achieve euphoria, feel good, have fun, or explore the effects of the drug.
• You consume pills given to you by an acquaintance, friend, or a relative.
• You consume pills that you purchased on a "black market" or stole.

The maximum score in the DUDIT is 44; higher scores indicate more severe drug-related problems than lower scores. Here's how to interpret your DUDIT score:

• If your result is 0 or 1, regardless of your gender, you do not have drug-related problems!
• If you're a man, and your DUDIT score is 6 or more, you may be struggling with drug-related problems, such as harmful use or dependence.
• If you're a woman and your DUDIT calculator result is 2 or more, you may engage in harmful drug-related behaviors.
• If you scored 25 or more on this substance use disorder test, you may be dependent on one or more drugs.

If you are a medical professional and the DUDIT identified that your patient may have harmful drug habits, consider conducting a more comprehensive analysis of the extent and nature of the problem as the second step of the assessment.

If you took DUDIT or any other substance use disorder test, and you consider your results alarming, here are a few steps you can take:

• Consider seeking professional support from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or physician. A healthcare professional may recommend enrolling in an addiction treatment program or different types of psychotherapy, depending on the severity.
• Seek social support from your loved ones.
• Reflect on the adverse effects of drugs on your life and the people around you.
• Identify your triggers, and try to change the environment.
• Consider substituting harmful habits with beneficial activities such as exercise. Exercising reduces stress, improves your sleep, and minimizes cravings!

Understanding the harmful effects of addiction can be a great motivator to pursue sobriety. Check out Omni addiction calculator to learn how addiction affects your life expectancy, and track your sobriety progress with sobriety calculator.

To calculate the DUDIT score, you need to:

1. Score questions 1 to 9 on a 4-point scale (0 = never and 4 = four times a week or more often).
2. Score questions 10 and 11 as 0, 2, or 4 (0 = no, 2 = yes, but not over the past year, and 4 = yes, over the past year).
3. Sum up all the points!

If you scored 25 or more on the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), there is a high probability that you may be dependent on one or more drugs. Consider seeking professional support.

The Drug Use Disorders Identification Test, also known as the DUDIT, does not screen for harmful alcohol use. If you are worried about your alcohol consumption habits, consider using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the CAGE questionnaire, or the Severity Of Alcohol Dependence-Questionnaire (SADS-Q).

The AUDIT and DUDIT are different screening instruments. AUDIT was composed to identify those who engage in harmful patterns of alcohol consumption. On the other hand, DUDIT identifies individuals with unhealthy drug-related behaviors.