Monitoring the Future (MTF) Restricted-Use Cross-Sectional Datasets

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 study provides the restricted-use datasets for the race/ethnicity variables included in the Monitoring the Future surveys through 2005: one for BX (8th/10th grades) for the years 1991-2005, and one for BY (12th grade) for the years 1976-2005.

Details of the change in the race/ethnicity questions have been documented in all restricted-use data codebooks/user's guides since 2019, and MTF includes the information in the documentation for this study also. The study team recommends reviewing the documentation included with this study to understand the changes over time. Instructions for merging restricted-use data files with other restricted-use files and with the public-use data files can be found in the restricted-use data documentation beginning in 2019.

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.