Drug Avoidance Self-Efficacy Scale

Summary

The DASES is a 16-item self-reported questionnaire. Clients are asked to imagine themselves in a particular situation and to rate their level of confidence (self-efficacy) to resist drug use in that situation. Each of the scale items represents a different situation in which a drug user might be tempted to use drugs.

The DASES was developed to assess a client's self-efficacy in the context of multiple drug use (self-efficacy refers to confidence in the ability to successfully cope with risk situations without using drugs). The DASES is useful as an outcome measure because it has demonstrated predictive validity; that is, scores on the scale have been shown to predict subsequent drug use behavior. It provides a measure of treatment progress with regard to coping with risk situations. There is evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the scale, although its use has been restricted to young multiple drug users (aged 16-30).