Assessing the utility of the Drug Abuse Screening Test in the workplace

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the utility and assess the psychometric properties of the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) in a sample of persons receiving services from an employee assistance program (EAP). Study participants (N = 176) were union members, including identified drug users and nonusers. As in other studies, the DAST was found to have a high internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and item-total scale correlation. Also consistent with previous reports, factor analysis identified 5 factors. The multifactor solution of the DAST underscores the importance of measuring and assessing substance use along a continuum of early recognition to its more advanced stages. DAST scores were correlated with family, financial status, job performance, mental health problems, and alcohol abuse. Study findings lend support to the DAST as a practical screening tool for use by human resource workers who provide services for substance-using individuals who are receiving services in an EAP setting. © 1997 Sage Publications, Inc.