Pierce Dolan — creator of the DAPS scale
Hi — I'm Pierce Dolan, creator of the Dolan Addictive Potentiality Scale (DAPS). DAPS is intended as a concise, population-focused method to estimate and communicate the addictive potential of substances across a simple numeric scale.
What DAPS measures
DAPS scores each substance across six factors: Reinforcement, Withdrawal severity, Tolerance rate, Onset/Route, Capture rate (population-level), and Compulsive pattern. Each factor is scored 0–4 and summed to make a raw score (0–24) which is then mapped to a level from 0 to 4; certain criteria elevate a substance to a 4x (extreme) rating.
Important notes
- DAPS focuses on addictive potential, not comprehensive medical harm.
- Different formulations and routes of administration can change a substance's DAPS level (for example, smoking/IV often increases risk).
- Individual vulnerability varies — genetics, trauma, and age of first use influence outcomes.
For more detail on how scoring works and the underlying framework, see the Framework page. To view classifications and the dataset, open Classifications.