National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Series

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) series (formerly titled National Household Survey on Drug Abuse) strives to provide accurate data on the level and patterns of licit and illicit drug use, track trends in the use of alcohol and various types of drugs, assess the consequences of drug use and abuse, and identify groups with a high risk for drug abuse to assess and monitor the nature of drug and alcohol use and the consequences of abuse. The NSDUH primarily measures drug and alcohol use incidence and prevalence among the general civilian population aged 12 and older in the United States. Questions include age at first use, as well as lifetime, annual, and past-month usage for the following drugs: alcohol, marijuana, cocaine (including crack), hallucinogens, heroin, inhalants, tobacco, pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives. The survey covers substance abuse treatment history and perceived need for treatment, and includes questions from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders that allow diagnostic criteria to be applied. Respondents were also asked about personal and family income sources and amounts, health care access and coverage, illegal activities and arrest record, problems resulting from the use of drugs, perceptions of risks, and needle-sharing. Demographic data include gender, race, age, ethnicity, educational level, job status, income level, veteran status, household composition, and population density.

The questionnaire was significantly redesigned in 1994. The 1994 survey also included a rural population supplement to allow separate estimates to be calculated for this population. Other modules have been added each year and retained in subsequent years: Mental health and access to care (1994-B); Risk/availability of drugs (1996); Cigar smoking and new questions on marijuana and cocaine use (1997); Question series asked only of respondents aged 12 to 17 (1997); Questions on tobacco brand (1999); Marijuana purchase questions (2001); Prior marijuana and cigarette use, additional questions on drug treatment, adult mental health services, and social environment (2003); and Adult and adolescent depression questions derived from the National Comorbidity Survey, Replication (NCS-R) and National Comorbidity Survey, Adolescent (NCS-A) (2004). Survey administration and sample design were improved with the implementation of the 1999 survey, and additional improvements were made in 2002.

The NSDUH is sponsored by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For more information, visit the NSDUH Web site.

• NSDUH Methodology Reports and Questionnaires
• NSDUH/NHSDA Publications from SAMHSA/OAS
• OAS State-Level Data
• The NHSDA Report: Accessing and Analyzing the NHSDA Online
• The NHSDA Report: Finding Specific Variables in the NHSDA