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The longitudinal Monitoring the Future (MTF) Panel study extends the work of the cross-sectional MTF Main study by following a subsample of graduating seniors through the entire adult life course. The selected respondents are surveyed every two years from ages 19-30. Starting at age 35, respondents are surveyed every five years, at ages 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 (FZ surveys). The FZ surveys cover many of the same topics as the 12th grade and follow-up surveys and include additional questions on life events and health.

This study contains only the survey data for age 60 for the MTF longitudinal panel study participants that have reached age 60 (FZ6) through the 2021 data collection.

NOTE: Users must also request the core panel data file: MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Core Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39223) because demographic information (e.g. sex, race/ethnicity) for the participants of the age 60 survey is included in the core panel data file.

Researchers can merge the Age 60 study data file with other MTF follow-up data in this series. This includes:

• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Core Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39223)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 1 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39282)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 2 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39325)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 3 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39389)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 4 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39326)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 5 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39283)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 6 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1989-2021 (ICPSR 39388)
• MTF: Age 35 Panel Data, 1993-2021 [Restricted-Use] (ICPSR 39749)
• MTF: Age 40 and 45 Panel Data, 1998-2021 [Restricted-Use] (ICPSR 39767)
• MTF: Ages 50 and 55 Panel Data, 2008-2021 [Restricted-Use] (ICPSR 39804)

In addition to questions about lifetime, annual, and 30-day substance use, the Age 60 (FZ6) survey also includes questions covering:

• Substance use and its consequences (alcohol, marijuana/cannabis, other illicit drugs, substance use disorder symptoms)
• Methods of marijuana/cannabis use
• Own attitudes and perceptions about substance use
• Living arrangements and household characteristics
• Dating, marriage, and significant relationships
• Family roles, obligations, burdens, emotional support
• Employment/retirement
• Income, financial security, satisfaction
• Community involvement, social issues
• Local and global concerns
• Political interest and preferences
• Happiness; satisfaction with life domains and self
• Psychosocial constructs: self-esteem, locus of control, loneliness, risk-taking, boredom
• Health symptoms and illnesses, healthy behaviors, COVID-19, medical treatments

Please see the study documentation available on the MTF Panel series page for question-specific details, including content areas included in all survey forms.

HIGHLIGHTS of this update:

• Missing data coding has been changed/simplified in this release. Please see the User Guide for details.
• Panel analysis weights are now included in the data file instead of a stand-alone file. Please see the updated documentation for information.

Please be alert for variable coding differences between paper and web survey versions, especially for questions skipped based on answers to other questions. Note the following:

• The web-based version of the survey was introduced in 2020.
• Paper vs. Web coding differences will be most noticeable for the questions related to substance use, relationship/marital status, employment, and family composition.
• Users will need to explore their data using V60035 (89940:FZ PAPER OR WEB - RESPONSE) to look for and understand any coding differences.

Extensive work has been done to document the history and use of the MTF substance use disorder questions and criteria. Please see Substance use disorder criteria sums in the Monitoring the Future Panel Study (Occasional Paper No. 101).

More information about the MTF project can be accessed through the Monitoring the Future website. Annual reports are published by the research team, describing the data collection and trends over time.

The longitudinal MTF Panel study extends the work of the cross-sectional MTF Main study by following a subsample of graduating seniors through the entire adult life course. The selected respondents are surveyed every two years from ages 19-30. Starting at age 35, respondents are surveyed every five years, at ages 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 (FZ surveys). The FZ surveys cover many of the same topics as the 12th grade and follow-up surveys and include additional questions on life events and health.

This study contains only the survey data for ages 50 and 55 for the MTF longitudinal panel study participants that have reached age 50 (FZ4) and/or age 55 (FZ5) through the 2021 data collection.

NOTE: Users must also request the core panel data file: MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Core Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39223) because demographic information (e.g. sex, race/ethnicity) for the participants of the age 50 and 55 surveys is included in the core panel data file.

Researchers can merge the Age 50-55 study data file with other MTF follow-up data in this series. This includes:

• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Core Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39223)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 1 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39282)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 2 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39325)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 3 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39389)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 4 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39326)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 5 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39283)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 6 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1989-2021 (ICPSR 39388)
• MTF: Age 35 Panel Data, 1993-2021 [Restricted-Use] (ICPSR 39749)
• MTF: Ages 40 and 45 Panel Data, 1998-2021 [Restricted-Use] (ICPSR 39767)
• MTF: Age 60 Panel Data, 2018-2021 [Restricted-Use] (ICPSR 39779)

In addition to questions about lifetime, annual, and 30-day substance use, the Age 50 (FZ4) and Age 55 (FZ5) surveys also includes questions covering:

• Substance use and its consequences (alcohol, marijuana/cannabis, other illicit drugs, substance use disorder symptoms)
• Methods of marijuana/cannabis use
• Own attitudes and perceptions about substance use
• Living arrangements and household characteristics
• Dating, marriage, and significant relationships
• Family roles, obligations, burdens, emotional support
• Employment: income, financial security, satisfaction
• Community involvement, social issues
• Local and global concerns
• Political interest and preferences
• Happiness; satisfaction with life domains and self
• Psychosocial constructs: self-esteem, locus of control, loneliness, risk-taking, boredom
• Health symptoms and illnesses, healthy behaviors, COVID-19, medical treatments

Please see the study documentation available on the MTF Panel series page for question-specific details, including content areas included in all survey forms.

HIGHLIGHTS of this update:

• Missing data coding has been changed/simplified in this release. Please see the User Guide for details.
• Panel analysis weights are now included in the data file instead of a stand-alone file. Please see the updated documentation for information.

Please be alert for variable coding differences between paper and web survey versions, especially for questions skipped based on answers to other questions. Note the following:

• The web-based version of the survey was introduced in 2020.
• Paper vs. Web coding differences will be most noticeable for the questions related to substance use, relationship/marital status, employment, and family composition.
• Users will need to explore their data using V50035/V55035 (89940:FZ PAPER OR WEB - RESPONSE) to look for and understand any coding differences

Extensive work has been done to document the history and use of the MTF substance use disorder questions and criteria. Please see Substance use disorder criteria sums in the Monitoring the Future Panel Study (Occasional Paper No. 101).

More information about the MTF project can be accessed through the Monitoring the Future website. Annual reports are published by the research team, describing the data collection and trends over time.

The longitudinal Monitoring the Future (MTF) Panel study extends the work of the cross-sectional MTF Main study by following a subsample of graduating seniors through the entire adult life course. The selected respondents are surveyed every two years from ages 19-30. Starting at age 35, respondents are surveyed every five years, at ages 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 (FZ surveys). The FZ surveys cover many of the same topics as the 12th grade and follow-up surveys and include additional questions on life events and health.

This study contains only the age 35 survey data for the MTF longitudinal panel study participants that have reached age 35 (FZ1) through the 2021 data collection.

NOTE: Users must also request the core panel data file: MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Core Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39223) because demographic information (e.g. sex, race/ethnicity) for the participants of the age 35 survey is included in the core panel data file.

Researchers can merge the Age 35 (FZ1) study data file with other MTF follow-up data in this series. This includes:

• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Core Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39223)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 1 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39282)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 2 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39325)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 3 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39389)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 4 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39326)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 5 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39283)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 6 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1989-2021 (ICPSR 39388)
• MTF: Age 40-45 Panel Data, 1998-2021 [Restricted-Use] (ICPSR 39767)
• Forthcoming: MTF Panel Data for Ages 50-55, and 60

In addition to questions about lifetime, annual, and 30-day substance use, the Age 35 (FZ1) survey also includes questions covering:

• Substance use and its consequences (alcohol, marijuana/cannabis, other illicit drugs, substance use disorder symptoms)
• Methods of marijuana/cannabis use
• Own attitudes and perceptions about substance use
• Living arrangements and household characteristics
• Dating, marriage, and significant relationships
• Parenthood and family
• Employment: experiences, income, financial security, satisfaction
• Leisure time
• Local and global concerns
• Political interest and preferences
• Happiness; satisfaction with life domains and self
• Psychosocial constructs: self-esteem, locus of control, loneliness, risk-taking, boredom
• Health symptoms, healthy behaviors, COVID-19

Please see the study documentation available on the MTF Panel series page for question-specific details, including content areas included in all survey forms.

HIGHLIGHTS of this update:

• Missing data coding has been changed/simplified in this release. Please see the User Guide for details.
• Panel analysis weights are now included in the data file instead of a stand-alone file. Please see the updated documentation for information.

Please be alert for variable coding differences between paper and web survey versions, especially for questions skipped based on answers to other questions. Note the following:

• The web-based version of the survey was introduced in 2020.
• Paper vs. Web coding differences will be most noticeable for the questions related to substance use, relationship/marital status, employment, and family composition.
• Users will need to explore their data using V35035 (89940:FZ PAPER OR WEB - RESPONSE) to look for and understand any coding differences.

Extensive work has been done to document the history and use of the MTF substance use disorder questions and criteria. Please see Substance use disorder criteria sums in the Monitoring the Future Panel Study (Occasional Paper No. 101)

More information about the MTF project can be accessed through the Monitoring the Future website. Annual reports are published by the research team, describing the data collection and trends over time.

The longitudinal Monitoring the Future (MTF) Panel study extends the work of the cross-sectional MTF Main study by following a subsample of graduating seniors through the entire adult life course. The selected respondents are surveyed every two years from ages 19-30. Starting at age 35, respondents are surveyed every five years, at ages 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 (FZ surveys). The FZ surveys cover many of the same topics as the 12th grade and follow-up surveys and include additional questions on life events and health.

This study contains only the survey data for ages 40 and 45 for the MTF longitudinal panel study participants that have reached age 40 (FZ2) and/or age 45 (FZ3) through the 2021 data collection.

NOTE: Users must also request the core panel data file: MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Core Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39223) because demographic information (e.g. sex, race/ethnicity) for the participants of the age 40 and 45 surveys is included in the core panel data file.

Researchers can merge the Age 40-45 study data file with other MTF follow-up data in this series. This includes:

• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Core Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39223)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 1 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39282)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 2 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39325)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 3 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39389)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 4 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39326)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 5 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1976-2021 (ICPSR 39283)
• MTF: Base Year and Follow-Up Form 6 Panel Data, Ages 18-30, 1989-2021 (ICPSR 39388)
• MTF: Age 35 Panel Data, 1993-2021 [Restricted-Use] (ICPSR 39749)
• Forthcoming: MTF panel data for ages, 50-55, and 60

In addition to questions about lifetime, annual, and 30-day substance use, the Age 40 (FZ2) and Age 45 (FZ3) surveys also includes questions covering:

• Substance use and its consequences (alcohol, marijuana/cannabis, other illicit drugs, substance use disorder symptoms)
• Methods of marijuana/cannabis use
• Own attitudes and perceptions about substance use
• Living arrangements and household characteristics
• Dating, marriage, and significant relationships
• Family roles, obligations, burdens
• Employment: experiences, income, financial security, satisfaction
• Leisure time
• Local and global concerns
• Political interest and preferences
• Happiness; satisfaction with life domains and self
• Psychosocial constructs: self-esteem, locus of control, loneliness, risk-taking, boredom
• Health symptoms and illnesses, healthy behaviors, COVID-19

Please see the study documentation available on the MTF Panel series page for question-specific details, including content areas included in all survey forms.

HIGHLIGHTS of this update:

• Missing data coding has been changed/simplified in this release. Please see the User Guide for details.
• Panel analysis weights are now included in the data file instead of a stand-alone file. Please see the updated documentation for information.

Please be alert for variable coding differences between paper and web survey versions, especially for questions skipped based on answers to other questions. Note the following:

• The web-based version of the survey was introduced in 2020.
• Paper vs. Web coding differences will be most noticeable for the questions related to substance use, relationship/marital status, employment, and family composition.
• Users will need to explore their data using V40035/V45035 (89940:FZ PAPER OR WEB - RESPONSE) to look for and understand any coding differences.

Extensive work has been done to document the history and use of the MTF substance use disorder questions and criteria. Please see Substance use disorder criteria sums in the Monitoring the Future Panel Study (Occasional Paper No. 101)

More information about the MTF project can be accessed through the Monitoring the Future website. Annual reports are published by the research team, describing the data collection and trends over time.

This data collection is part of the Monitoring the Future series that explores changes in important values, behaviors, and lifestyle orientations of contemporary American youth in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades. The restricted data sets in this collection include variables that were altered or omitted from the public use data sets to maintain respondent confidentiality. Examples of variables included in their original form are: unaltered sampling weight variable, variables for strata and cluster to account for the complex sample design of the MTF, and previously-omitted data on some variables for the Western region of the US. For each year from 1976 through 2017, two data sets containing data for all three grades are available: one dataset including school-level state, county, and Zip Code variables, and one dataset without these geographic school-level variables. For 2018-2022, data sets were created separately for 8th/10th and 12th grades, resulting in four data sets. This split on grade was done to mirror the data availability of the public use files and facilitate the merging of the public and restricted use data. For 2023 forward, only two data sets are provided: one for the 8th and 10th grades, and one for the 12th grade. Please note: Use of the geographic identifiers such as state, county, or zip code is limited and researchers interested in these variables are encouraged to read FAQs: About MTF Restricted-Use Geographic Variables.

Also included as part of each annual collection is a zip archive of the Monitoring the Future public-use data and documentation for each respective year. The basic research design used by the Monitoring the Future study involves annual data collections from eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders throughout the contiguous United States during the spring of each year. The 8th/10th grade surveys consist of four different questionnaire forms (two forms from 1991-1996), and the 12th grade surveys consist of six questionnaire forms (five forms from 1976-1988). Identical forms are used for both eighth and tenth grades, and for the most part, questionnaire content is drawn from the twelfth-grade questionnaires. Thus, key demographic variables and measures of substance use and related attitudes and beliefs are generally identical for all three grades. However, many fewer questions about lifestyles and values are included in the 8th/10th grade surveys. Substance use covered by these surveys includes tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, marijuana/cannabis, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, inhalants, steroids, LSD and other hallucinogens, amphetamines (stimulants), sedatives/barbiturates, tranquilizers, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, and vaping of nicotine, marijuana/cannabis, and flavors. Other topics include: attitudes toward religion, changing roles for women, educational aspirations, self-esteem, exposure to drug education, and violence and crime (both in and out of school).

This data collection is part of the Monitoring the Future series that explores changes in important values, behaviors, and lifestyle orientations of contemporary American youth in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades. The restricted data sets in this collection include variables that were altered or omitted from the public use data sets to maintain respondent confidentiality. Examples of variables included in their original form are: unaltered sampling weight variable, variables for strata and cluster to account for the complex sample design of the MTF, and previously-omitted data on some variables for the Western region of the US. For each year from 1976 through 2017, two data sets containing data for all three grades are available: one dataset including school-level state, county, and Zip Code variables, and one dataset without these geographic school-level variables. Beginning with 2018, data sets were created separately for 8th/10th and 12th grades, resulting in four data sets. This split on grade was done to mirror the data availability of the public use files and facilitate the merging of the public and restricted use data. Please note: Use of the geographic identifiers such as state, county, or zip code is limited and researchers interested in these variables are encouraged to read FAQs: Monitoring the Future Restricted-Use Geographic Variables.

Also included as part of each annual collection is a zip archive of the Monitoring the Future public-use data and documentation for each respective year. The basic research design used by the Monitoring the Future study involves annual data collections from eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders throughout the coterminous United States during the spring of each year. The 8th/10th grade surveys consist of four different questionnaire forms (two forms from 1991-1996) and the 12th grade surveys consist of six questionnaire forms (five forms from 1976-1988). Identical forms are used for both eighth and tenth grades, and for the most part, questionnaire content is drawn from the twelfth-grade questionnaires. Thus, key demographic variables and measures of drug use and related attitudes and beliefs are generally identical for all three grades. However, many fewer questions about lifestyles and values are included in the 8th/10th grade surveys. Drugs covered by these surveys include tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, hashish, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, inhalants, steroids, LSD, hallucinogens, amphetamines (stimulants), Ritalin (methylphenidate), sedatives/barbiturates, tranquilizers, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, heroin, and GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate). Other topics include: attitudes toward religion, changing roles for women, educational aspirations, self-esteem, exposure to drug education, and violence and crime (both in and out of school).

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2025: There is an issue with merging the restricted-use and public-use data files for the 8th/10th grades. The current 8th/10th grade public-use data file [study 38883, DS1] has incorrect Archive IDs (AI_08 and AI_10). To fix the IDs so the merge of public- and restricted-use data is correct, please see Dataset 6 (DS6) in this study. Documentation is provided about the issue and a dataset is provided to fix the ID mis-match. Note that all survey data are correct - the problem is only with the archive ID variables.

This data collection is part of the Monitoring the Future series that explores changes in important values, behaviors, and lifestyle orientations of contemporary American youth in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades. The restricted data sets in this collection include variables that were altered or omitted from the public use data sets to maintain respondent confidentiality. Examples of variables included in their original form are: unaltered sampling weight variable, variables for strata and cluster to account for the complex sample design of the MTF, and previously-omitted data on some variables for the Western region of the US. For each year from 1976 through 2017, two data sets containing data for all three grades are available: one dataset including school-level state, county, and Zip Code variables, and one dataset without these geographic school-level variables. Beginning with 2018, data sets were created separately for 8th/10th and 12th grades, resulting in four data sets. This split on grade was done to mirror the data availability of the public use files and facilitate the merging of the public and restricted use data. Please note: Use of the geographic identifiers such as state, county, or zip code is limited and researchers interested in these variables are encouraged to read FAQs: Monitoring the Future Restricted-Use Geographic Variables.

Also included as part of each annual collection is a zip archive of the Monitoring the Future public-use data and documentation for each respective year. The basic research design used by the Monitoring the Future study involves annual data collections from eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders throughout the coterminous United States during the spring of each year. The 8th/10th grade surveys consist of four different questionnaire forms (two forms from 1991-1996) and the 12th grade surveys consist of six questionnaire forms (five forms from 1976-1988). Identical forms are used for both eighth and tenth grades, and for the most part, questionnaire content is drawn from the twelfth-grade questionnaires. Thus, key demographic variables and measures of drug use and related attitudes and beliefs are generally identical for all three grades. However, many fewer questions about lifestyles and values are included in the 8th/10th grade surveys. Drugs covered by these surveys include tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, hashish, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, inhalants, steroids, LSD, hallucinogens, amphetamines (stimulants), Ritalin (methylphenidate), sedatives/barbiturates, tranquilizers, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, heroin, and GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate). Other topics include: attitudes toward religion, changing roles for women, educational aspirations, self-esteem, exposure to drug education, and violence and crime (both in and out of school).

UPDATE OCTOBER 2025: There is a problem with merging the restricted-use and public-use data files for the 8th/10th grades. The current 8th/10th grade public-use data file [study 39171, DS1] has incorrect Archive IDs (AI_08 and AI_10). To fix the IDs so the merge of public- and restricted-use data is correct, please see Dataset 4 (DS4) in this study. Documentation is provided about the issue, and a dataset is provided to fix the ID mis-match. Note that all survey data are correct - the problem is only with the archive ID variables.

This survey of 12th-grade students is part of a series that explores changes in important values, behaviors, and lifestyle orientations of contemporary American youth. Students are randomly assigned to complete one of six questionnaires, each with a different subset of topical questions, but all containing a set of "core" questions on demographics and substance use. There are about 1,400 variables across the six questionnaires. Substance use covered by these surveys includes tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, marijuana/cannabis, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, inhalants, steroids, LSD and other hallucinogens, amphetamines (stimulants), sedatives/barbiturates, tranquilizers, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, and vaping of nicotine, marijuana/cannabis, and flavors. Other topics include attitudes toward religion, changing roles for women, educational aspirations, self-esteem, exposure to drug education, and violence and crime (both in and out of school).

Highlights for 2024:

• The MTF sampling procedure was updated in 2024. Please see the 2024 MTF annual report for details. Variable-specific details are found in the user's guide that accompanies this study.
• Continuation of randomized blocks of questions presented to students. Please see Appendix D of the user's guide.
• In 2023, the question about use of Delta-8 THC was included only on forms 3 and 6. In 2024, this question is now included on all survey forms. With the inclusion on all forms, please note these variable name changes:
  • CORE: V2934 was changed to V7976
  • Form 3: V3660 was changed to V7976
  • Form 6: V6676 was changed to V7976
• Changes were made to the question stems for many of the substance use "triplets", i.e. lifetime, 12 month, and 30 day timeframes, including: marijuana/cannabis, hallucinogens other than LSD, amphetamines (stimulants), sedatives/barbiturates, tranquilizers, and narcotics other than heroin.
• Additional information about question text and response option changes, along with details about added and dropped questions, are documented in the MTFQchanges2024byForm.pdf and MTFQchanges2024byType.pdf files available for download.
• MTF is no longer providing dichotomized substance use variables on the DS1 datasets. As each researcher has their own method of working with data, it is up to the researcher to create these variables for their specific needs.

The Monitoring the Future (MTF) project is a long-term epidemiologic and etiologic study of substance use among youth and adults in the United States. It is conducted at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research and is funded by a series of investigator-initiated research grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The MTF panel study consists of six different survey forms (five forms from 1976-1988), and each survey contains a "core" set of questions about demographics and substance use. This study contains the "core" data for these questions compiled across all survey forms and years in which they are included for the longitudinal panel participants. Each record in the core panel dataset includes the respondent's data for their base year (BY) 12th grade survey (modal age 18) and their young adult follow-up FU surveys (modal ages 19-30).

The core panel dataset should be selected by all researchers. Use the linking variable available on all datasets, MTFID, to link the core dataset with all other MTF panel datasets.

Here is a list of subjects included in the core dataset:

Administrative variables

• Year of administration
• Survey form
• Survey date
• BY survey weight, sampling stratum and cluster
• FU panel analysis weights

Demographics

BY only

• #Parents in household
• Parent education levels
• Respondent's age in months
• Sex
• Race/Ethnicity
• Region of the country (school location)
• Population density/Urbanicity (school location)
• High school Zip Code, State and County FIPS codes (can be linked to user-provided data; results can be reported at no unit smaller than US geographical region)
• Absenteeism (illness, cutting, skipping class)
• High school program, Grades, post-high school plans

FU only

• Pregnancy status
• Household type
• Urbanicity
• Absenteeism (missing work due to illness, other)
• Vocational/Technical education, Armed forces, College attendance
• College grades, attendance, Greek life

BY and FU

• Marital status
• Household composition
• Political preference
• Religious attendance, importance, preference
• Evenings out, Dating
• Employment
• Salary/earned Income and Other Income
• Driving, tickets, and accidents related to alcohol and other substance use

Substance use

• Cigarette use
• Alcohol use (including binge drinking (e.g. 5+ drinks in a row/2 weeks), drunkenness)
• Marijuana/cannabis, hashish use
• LSD use
• Hallucinogen use, other than LSD
• Cocaine use (including cocaine, crack, other forms)
• Amphetamine use
• Sedatives/Barbiturate use
• Tranquilizer use
• Heroin use (with and without needles)
• Narcotics use (other than Heroin)
• Inhalant use
• Steroid use
• Ice use
• Methamphetamine use
• MDMA use
• Vaping: nicotine, marijuana, flavoring

Please see the study documentation available on the MTF Panel series page for question-specific details.

More information about the MTF project can be accessed through the Monitoring the Future website. Annual reports are published by the research team, describing the data collection and trends over time.

The MTF study consists of six different survey forms (five forms from 1976-1988). This study contains the data for Form 4 longitudinal panel participants. The MTF Form 4 restricted panel dataset includes data for the base year (BY) 12th grade surveys (modal age 18) and their young adult follow-up FU surveys (modal ages 19-30).

In addition to demographic-related questions and questions about lifetime, annual, and 30-day substance use that are included on all survey forms, Form 4 also includes questions covering:

• Beer, Wine, hard liquor, wine coolers use
• Vaping sources
• Flavored, small, and large cigars
• Hookah, dissolvable tobacco, snus, and smokeless tobacco use
• Own attitudes and perceptions about substance use
• Perceived risk of substance use
• Perceived friends' substance use
• Perceived addictiveness of substances
• Legal Issues Regarding Drugs
• Delinquency, victimization, and feeling safe at school
• Vocational plans, aspirations, expectations
• Preferences regarding job characteristics
• Desirability of different working arrangements and settings
• Work ethic/success orientation
• Dating and marriage: status, attitudes, expectations
• Parenthood: attitudes, expectations
• Values surrounding marriage and family
• Personal materialism
• Ecological concerns, conservation of resources
• Attitudes toward governmental policies and practices
• Local and global concerns
• Voting behavior
• Attitudes toward the military as an institution and occupation
• Happiness; satisfaction with life domains and self

Please see the study documentation available on the MTF Panel series page for question-specific details.

More information about the MTF project can be accessed through the Monitoring the Future website. Annual reports are published by the research team, describing the data collection and trends over time.

The MTF study consists of six different survey forms (five forms from 1976-1988). This study contains the data for Form 2 longitudinal panel participants. The MTF Form 2 restricted panel dataset includes data for the base year (BY) 12th grade surveys (modal age 18) and their young adult follow-up FU surveys (modal ages 19-30).

In addition to demographic-related questions and questions about lifetime, annual, and 30-day substance use that are included on all survey forms, Form 2 also includes questions covering:

• Availability of drugs
• Confidence/trust in government
• Dating, marriage, and family
• Delinquency and victimization
• Expected future substance use
• Exposure to substance use
• Healthy behaviors, illness, COVID-19
• Leisure time activities, high school and post-high school
• Methods of marijuana use
• Military: plans for service, draft opinion
• Own attitudes and perceptions about substance use
• Perceived friends' substance use
• Perceived risk of substance use
• Psychosocial domains: boredom, loneliness, self-esteem, depressive affect, social support, self-efficacy, risk taking
• Satisfaction with life domains
• Sources of help and treatment for substance use
• Sources of marijuana
• Substance use initiation
• Vaping, including nicotine, marijuana, flavoring, sources
• Voting, political activism

NOTE: In 2020, school-based data collection was halted due to COVID-19. BY sample sizes were affected, and data for some questions on forms 2 and 3 were suppressed. The list of variables affected is found in the 2020 12th grade Codebook available through NAHDAP.

Please see the study documentation available on the MTF Panel series page for question-specific details , including content areas included in all survey forms.

NOTE: Researchers are encouraged to begin their work with the "core" data file, NAHDAP study 39223. Please see the User's Guide, IV. Working with the MTF Restricted Panel Data, for details.

More information about the MTF project can be accessed through the Monitoring the Future website. Annual reports are published by the MTF research team, describing the data collection and trends over time.

The MTF study consists of six different survey forms (five forms from 1976-1988). This study contains the data for Form 1 longitudinal panel participants. The MTF Form 1 Panel dataset includes data for the base year (BY) 12th grade surveys (modal age 18) and their young adult follow-up FU surveys (modal ages 19-30).

In addition to demographic-related questions and questions about lifetime, annual, and 30-day substance use that are included on all survey forms, Form 1 also includes questions covering:

• incidence of first use
• co-use of substances
• sources of obtaining substances
• perceived friends' use
• perceived availability of substances
• when, where, and with who substance use is occurring
• modes of substance use administration
• reasons for use or non-use
• own attitudes about substance use
• perceived risk of use
• substance use advertising
• sources of help and treatment
• free time and activities
• role of citizens in government, confidence in government
• voting and political activism
• attitudes towards discrimination
• satisfaction with life domains
• healthy behaviors
• physical health symptoms

Please see the study documentation available on the MTF Panel series page for question-specific details.

More information about the MTF project can be accessed through the Monitoring the Future website. Annual reports are published by the research team, describing the data collection and trends over time.

The MTF study consists of six different survey forms (five forms from 1976-1988). This study contains the data for Form 5 longitudinal panel participants. The MTF Form 5 restricted panel dataset includes data for the base year (BY) 12th grade surveys (modal age 18) and their young adult follow-up FU surveys (modal ages 19-30).

In addition to demographic-related questions and questions about lifetime, annual, and 30-day substance use that are included on all survey forms, Form 5 also includes questions covering:

• Non-prescription substance use, including Ritalin, Adderall, Oxycontin, Vicodin, fentanyl
• Energy drinks/shots
• Flavored alcohol, alcohol+caffeine
• Flavored small and large cigars
• Hookah
• dissolvable tobacco, snus, smokeless tobacco
• Synthetic marijuana use
• Incidence of first use
• Perceived risk of substance use
• Own and others' attitudes and perceptions about substance use
• Exposure to substance use
• Substance use problems
• Reasons for substance use, abstention or stopping use
• Perceived availability of substances
• Expected future substance use
• Sources of help and treatment for substance use
• Job-related substance use testing
• Methods of substance use
• Satisfaction with life domains
• Interpersonal relationships
• Parenthood: status, attitudes, expectations
• Dating, marriage, and family: status, values, attitudes, expectations, sex roles
• Military: plans for service, attitudes toward the military as an institution and occupation
• Working arrangements and settings
• Work ethic/success orientation
• Leisure time: extent, activities, and attitudes
• Community involvement
• Voting and political activism
• Political interest and preference
• Concern for others, locally and globally
• Conservation of resources, ecological concerns, mass transit
• Attitudes towards discrimination
• Expectations concerning societal change
• Reactions to personal and social change
• Personal materialism
• Delinquency and victimization
• Psychosocial domains: boredom, loneliness, self-esteem, depressive affect,social support, self-efficacy, risk taking
• Healthy behaviors, illness, COVID-19
• Post high school: status, plans, characteristics
• High school sport involvement, concussion
• Substance use education in high school

Please see the study documentation available on the MTF Panel series page for question-specific details, including content areas included in all survey forms.

More information about the MTF project can be accessed through the Monitoring the Future website. Annual reports are published by the research team, describing the data collection and trends over time.

This survey of 12th-grade students is part of a series that explores changes in important values, behaviors, and lifestyle orientations of contemporary American youth. Students are randomly assigned to complete one of six questionnaires, each with a different subset of topical questions, but all containing a set of "core" questions on demographics and substance use. There are about 1,400 variables across the questionnaires. Substance use covered by this survey includes: tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, hashish, vaping, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, LSD, hallucinogens, amphetamines (stimulants), Ritalin (methylphenidate), sedatives/barbiturates (tranquilizers), cocaine, crack cocaine, GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate), ecstasy, methamphetamine, and heroin. Other topics include attitudes toward religion, changing roles for women, educational aspirations, self-esteem, exposure to drug education, and violence and crime (both in and out of school).

Highlights for 2023:

• 12th grade only: Continuation of randomized blocks of questions presented to students. Please see Appendix D of the codebook.
• All grades: Change to the question stem for some lifetime, 12 month, and 30 day marijuana use questions.
• Separate codebooks are generated by ICPSR for the core data file (DS1) and the six form-specific data files (DS2-DS7). The codebooks contain only the frequencies, question text, and response options for the survey items. Please see the documentation under DS0 Study-Level Files for the annual study documentation provided by MTF, 39172-0001-User_guide-UsersGuide.pdf.

Please see the Highlights for 2023 section in the codebook for more details.

Additional information is documented in the MTFQchanges2023byForm.pdf and MTFQchanges2023byType.pdf files available for download.

This survey of 12th-grade students is part of a series that explores changes in important values, behaviors, and lifestyle orientations of contemporary American youth. Students are randomly assigned to complete one of six questionnaires, each with a different subset of topical questions, but all containing a set of "core" questions on demographics and drug use. There are about 1,400 variables across the questionnaires. Drugs covered by this survey include tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, hashish, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, LSD, hallucinogens, amphetamines (stimulants), Ritalin (methylphenidate), Quaaludes (methaqualone), barbiturates (tranquilizers), cocaine, crack cocaine, GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate), ecstasy, methamphetamine, and heroin. Other topics include attitudes toward religion, changing roles for women, educational aspirations, self-esteem, exposure to drug education, and violence and crime (both in and out of school).

Highlights for 2022:

• Continuation of randomized blocks of questions presented to students. Please see Appendix D of the codebook.
• Change to the question stem for some lifetime, 12 month, and 30 day heroin and marijuana use questions. Please see the Highlights for 2022 section in the codebook for more details.
• Change to the heroin use questions: Separate questions about heroin use with a needle and heroin use without a needle for lifetime, past 12 months, and past 30 day timeframes are no longer asked. The separate questions have been replaced by the single question, "On how many occasions (if any), have you taken heroin...
  • ...in your lifetime?
  • ...during the last 12 months?
  • ...during the last 30 days?

Additional information is documented in the MTFQchanges2022byForm.pdf and MTFQchanges2022byType.pdf files available for download.

The Monitoring the Future (MTF) project is a long-term epidemiologic and etiologic study of substance use among youth and adults in the United States. It is conducted at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, and funded by a series of investigator-initiated research grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. MTF has two components: MTF Main and MTF Panel.

From its inception in 1975, the cross-sectional MTF Main study has collected data annually from nationally representative samples of 12,000-19,000 high school seniors in 12th grade located in approximately 135 schools nationwide. Beginning in 1991, similar annual cross-sectional surveys of nationally representative samples of 8th and 10th graders have been conducted. In all, approximately 45,000 students annually respond to about 100 drug use and demographic questions, as well as to about 200 additional questions divided among multiple survey forms on other topics such as attitudes toward government, social institutions, race relations, changing gender roles, educational aspirations, occupational aims, and marital plans.

The longitudinal MTF Panel study conducts follow-up surveys with representative subsamples of respondents from each 12th grade cohort participating in MTF Main. From each cohort, a sample of about 2,450 students are selected for longitudinal follow-up, with an oversampling of students who reported prior drug use during their 12th grade survey. Longitudinal follow-up currently spans modal ages 19-30 and 35-60. For surveys at modal ages 19-30, the sample is randomly split into two halves (approx. 1,225 each) to be followed every other year. One half-sample begins its first follow-up the year after high school (at modal age 19), and the other half-sample begins its first follow-up in the second year after high school (at modal age 20). Thus, six young adult follow-up (FU) surveys occur between modal ages 19-30, at modal ages 19/20 (FU1), 21/22 (FU2), 23/24 (FU3), 25/26 (FU4), 27/28 (FU5), and 29/30 (FU6). After age 30, respondents are surveyed every five years: 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 (these are referred to as FZ surveys). The FZ surveys cover many of the same topics as the 12th grade and FU surveys and include additional questions on life events and health.

MTF Panel surveys for the young adults (ages 19-30) were conducted using mailed paper surveys from 1977-2017. In 2018 and 2019, a random half of all those aged 19-30 received a mailed paper survey, while the other half were surveyed using a new procedure that encouraged participation using web surveys (web-push). The FZ surveys (ages 35-60) were conducted using mailed paper surveys through the 2019 data collection.

More information about the MTF project can be accessed through the Monitoring the Future website. Annual reports are published by the research team, describing the data collection and trends over time.

This data collection is part of the Monitoring the Future series that explores changes in important values, behaviors, and lifestyle orientations of contemporary American youth in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades. The restricted data sets in this collection include variables that were altered or omitted from the public use data sets to maintain respondent confidentiality. Examples of variables included in their original form are: unaltered sampling weight variable, variables for strata and cluster to account for the complex sample design of the MTF, and previously-omitted data on some variables for the Western region of the US. For each year from 1976 through 2017, two data sets containing data for all three grades are available: one dataset including school-level state, county, and Zip Code variables, and one dataset without these geographic school-level variables. Beginning with 2018, data sets were created separately for 8th/10th and 12th grades, resulting in four data sets. This split on grade was done to mirror the data availability of the public use files and facilitate the merging of the public and restricted use data. Please note: Use of the geographic identifiers such as state, county, or zip code is limited and researchers interested in these variables are encouraged to read FAQs: Monitoring the Future Restricted-Use Geographic Variables

Also included as part of each annual collection is a zip archive of the Monitoring the Future public-use data and documentation for each respective year. The basic research design used by the Monitoring the Future study involves annual data collections from eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders throughout the coterminous United States during the spring of each year. The 8th/10th grade surveys consist of four different questionnaire forms (only two forms from 1991-1996) and the 12th grade surveys consist of six questionnaire forms (only five forms from 1976-1988). Identical forms are used for both eighth and tenth grades, and for the most part, questionnaire content is drawn from the twelfth-grade questionnaires. Thus, key demographic variables and measures of drug use and related attitudes and beliefs are generally identical for all three grades. However, many fewer questions about lifestyles and values are included in the 8th/10th grade surveys. Drugs covered by these surveys include tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, hashish, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, inhalants, steroids, LSD, hallucinogens, amphetamines (stimulants), Ritalin (methylphenidate), sedatives/barbiturates tranquilizers, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, heroin, and GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate). Other topics include: attitudes toward religion, changing roles for women, educational aspirations, self-esteem, exposure to drug education, and violence and crime (both in and out of school).

This survey of 12th-grade students is part of a series that explores changes in important values, behaviors, and lifestyle orientations of contemporary American youth. Students are randomly assigned to complete one of six questionnaires, each with a different subset of topical questions, but all containing a set of "core" questions on demographics and drug use. There are about 1,400 variables across the questionnaires. Drugs covered by this survey include tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, hashish, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, LSD, hallucinogens, amphetamines (stimulants), Ritalin (methylphenidate), Quaaludes (methaqualone), barbiturates (tranquilizers), cocaine, crack cocaine, GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate), ecstasy, methamphetamine, and heroin. Other topics include attitudes toward religion, changing roles for women, educational aspirations, self-esteem, exposure to drug education, and violence and crime (both in and out of school).

Highlights for 2021:

• Data collection resumed in 2021, with a change to all web-based surveys.
• Students completed the surveys on their personal or school-provided device.
• Non-survey variables have been changed or added to facilitate analyses. For details, please see the codebook section "MTF Variable Information - Non-survey variables included in the data files - Survey mode and design variables for 2021"
• Information about "screen break" issues, where series of questions were originally presented differently in the web-based survey as compared to the 2019/2020 tablet surveys. Please see the codebook and Appendix D for details.
• For 12th grade: two additional changes to the survey presentation. Please see the codebook section "MTF Variable Information - Non-survey variables included in the data files", and respective appendices for details.
• Introduction of randomized blocks of questions presented to students. Please see Appendix E.
• Test of presentation of items in the substance use consequences section on form 3. Please see Appendix F.
• Additional information is documented in the MTFQchanges2021byForm.pdf and MTFQchanges2021byType.pdf files available for download.

This data collection is part of the Monitoring the Future series that explores changes in important values, behaviors, and lifestyle orientations of contemporary American youth in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades. The restricted data sets in this collection include variables that were altered or omitted from the public use data sets to maintain respondent confidentiality. Examples of variables included in their original form are: unaltered sampling weight variable, variables for strata and cluster to account for the complex sample design of the MTF, and previously-omitted data on some variables for the Western region of the US. For each year from 1976 through 2017, two data sets containing data for all three grades are available: one dataset including school-level state, county, and Zip Code variables, and one dataset without these geographic school-level variables. Beginning with 2018, data sets were created separately for 8th/10th and 12th grades, resulting in four data sets. This split on grade was done to mirror the data availability of the public use files and facilitate the merging of the public and restricted use data. Please note: Use of the geographic identifiers such as state, county, or zip code is limited and researchers interested in these variables are encouraged to read FAQs: Monitoring the Future Restricted-Use Geographic Variables

Also included as part of each annual collection is a zip archive of the Monitoring the Future public-use data and documentation for each respective year. The basic research design used by the Monitoring the Future study involves annual data collections from eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders throughout the coterminous United States during the spring of each year. The 8th/10th grade surveys consist of four different questionnaire forms (only two forms from 1991-1996) and the 12th grade surveys consist of six questionnaire forms (only five forms from 1976-1988). Identical forms are used for both eighth and tenth grades, and for the most part, questionnaire content is drawn from the twelfth-grade questionnaires. Thus, key demographic variables and measures of drug use and related attitudes and beliefs are generally identical for all three grades. However, many fewer questions about lifestyles and values are included in the 8th/10th grade surveys. Drugs covered by these surveys include tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, hashish, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, inhalants, steroids, LSD, hallucinogens, amphetamines (stimulants), Ritalin (methylphenidate), sedatives/barbiturates tranquilizers, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, heroin, and GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate). Other topics include: attitudes toward religion, changing roles for women, educational aspirations, self-esteem, exposure to drug education, and violence and crime (both in and out of school).

This data collection is part of the Monitoring the Future series that explores changes in important values, behaviors, and lifestyle orientations of contemporary American youth in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades. The restricted data sets in this collection include variables that were altered or omitted from the public use data sets to maintain respondent confidentiality. Examples of variables included in their original form are: unaltered sampling weight variable, variables for strata and cluster to account for the complex sample design of the MTF, and previously-omitted data on some variables for the Western region of the US. For each year from 1976 through 2017, two data sets containing data for all three grades are available: one dataset including school-level state, county, and Zip Code variables, and one dataset without these geographic school-level variables. Beginning with 2018, data sets were created separately for 8th/10th and 12th grades, resulting in four data sets. This split on grade was done to mirror the data availability of the public use files and facilitate the merging of the public and restricted use data. Please note: Use of the geographic identifiers such as state, county, or zip code is limited and researchers interested in these variables are encouraged to read FAQs: Monitoring the Future Restricted-Use Geographic Variables.

Also included as part of each annual collection is a zip archive of the Monitoring the Future public-use data and documentation for each respective year. The basic research design used by the Monitoring the Future study involves annual data collections from eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders throughout the coterminous United States during the spring of each year. The 8th/10th grade surveys consist of four different questionnaire forms (only two forms from 1991-1996) and the 12th grade surveys consist of six questionnaire forms (only five forms from 1976-1988). Identical forms are used for both eighth and tenth grades, and for the most part, questionnaire content is drawn from the twelfth-grade questionnaires. Thus, key demographic variables and measures of drug use and related attitudes and beliefs are generally identical for all three grades. However, many fewer questions about lifestyles and values are included in the 8th/10th grade surveys. Drugs covered by these surveys include tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, hashish, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, inhalants, steroids, LSD, hallucinogens, amphetamines (stimulants), Ritalin (methylphenidate), sedatives/barbiturates tranquilizers, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, heroin, and GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate). Other topics include: attitudes toward religion, changing roles for women, educational aspirations, self-esteem, exposure to drug education, and violence and crime (both in and out of school).

The National Surveys on Energy and Environment (NSEE), is an on-going biannual national opinion survey on energy and climate policy. Launched in 2008, over time the NSEE has covered topics such as public policy approaches to address climate change including federal, state, and international action; energy policies such as cap-and-trade, carbon taxes, renewable energy requirements, vehicle emissions standards, and many more; and knowledge and attitudes about global warming, climate adaptation, fracking, and geoengineering. NSEE was co-founded by professor Barry Rabe at the University of Michigan, and professor Christopher Borick at Muhlenberg College, and is fielded by the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.

From 2008 to 2012 the survey was called the "National Survey of American Public Opinion on Climate Change" (NSAPOOC); starting in 2013 the survey was renamed to the "National Surveys on Energy and Environment" (NSEE). This dataset includes data from eighteen waves, from Fall 2008 through Fall 2017. Demographic variables include age, years of education completed, income, political affiliation, religious affiliation, gender, and race.

This data collection is part of the Monitoring the Future series that explores changes in important values, behaviors, and lifestyle orientations of contemporary American youth in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades. The restricted-use data sets in this collection include variables that were altered or omitted from the public-use data sets to maintain respondent confidentiality. Examples of variables included in their original form are: unaltered sampling weight variable, variables for strata and cluster to account for the complex sample design of the MTF, and previously-omitted data on some variables for the Western region of the US. For each year from 1976 through 2017, two data sets containing data for all three grades are available: one dataset including school-level state, county, and Zip Code variables, and one dataset without these geographic school-level variables. Beginning with 2018, data sets were created separately for 8th/10th and 12th grades, resulting in four data sets. This split on grade was done to mirror the data availability of the public-use files and facilitate the merging of the public- and restricted-use data. Please note: Use of the geographic identifiers such as state, county, or zip code is limited and researchers interested in these variables are encouraged to read FAQs: Monitoring the Future Restricted-Use Geographic Variables.

Also included as part of each annual collection is a zip archive of the Monitoring the Future public-use data and documentation for each respective year. The basic research design used by the Monitoring the Future study involves annual data collections from eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders throughout the coterminous United States during the spring of each year. The 8th/10th grade surveys consist of four different questionnaire forms (only two forms from 1991-1996) and the 12th grade surveys consist of six questionnaire forms (only five forms from 1976-1988). Identical forms are used for both eighth and tenth grades, and for the most part, questionnaire content is drawn from the twelfth-grade questionnaires. Thus, key demographic variables and measures of drug use and related attitudes and beliefs are generally identical for all three grades. However, many fewer questions about lifestyles and values are included in the 8th/10th grade surveys. Drugs covered by these surveys include tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, hashish, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, inhalants, steroids, LSD, hallucinogens, amphetamines (stimulants), Ritalin (methylphenidate), sedatives/barbiturates tranquilizers, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, heroin, and GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate). Other topics include: attitudes toward religion, changing roles for women, educational aspirations, self-esteem, exposure to drug education, and violence and crime (both in and out of school).