Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

2009 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports

Data Sources—Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Office of Applied Studies.

Mode of Administration

Computer-assisted personal interviews and audio computer-assisted self-interviews.

Survey Sample Design

NSDUH uses a multistage area probability sample for each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia. The sample is stratified on multiple levels, beginning with States. Eight States are considered large sample States and contribute approximately 3,600 respondents per State. The remaining States are sampled to yield 900 respondents per State. The second level of stratification divides States into Field Interviewer regions. The third level of stratification divides the Field Interviewer regions into area segments of adjacent census blocks, which are used as the primary sampling units.

Primary Survey Content

The NSDUH reports on the prevalence, patterns, and consequences of drug and alcohol use and abuse in the general U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population age 12 and over. Data are collected on the use of illicit drugs, nonmedical use of legal drugs, and use of alcohol and tobacco products. Data are also collected on serious psychological distress, major depressive episode, mental health treatment, treatment for substance use disorders, criminal behavior, attitudes toward substance use, and a variety of other issues.

Patient demographics, age at first use, lifetime, annual, and past-month usage for the following drug classes: marijuana, cocaine/crack, hallucinogens, heroin, inhalants, alcohol, tobacco, and nonmedical use of prescription drugs.

Population Targeted

U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population age 12 and over.

Demographic Data

Age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, educational level, employment status, veteran status, and current household composition.

Years Collected

Since 1979.

Schedule

Annual.

Geographic Estimates

National and States.

Notes

Before 2002, this survey was known as the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Administration and methods for this series changed in 2002; therefore, the data from 2002 and later may not be comparable with data collected in earlier years.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.samhsa.gov.

Data source home page: http://oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh.htm.

Substance Abuse Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS)

Sponsor

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Office of Applied Studies.

Description

TEDS is an admission-based system and is part of SAMHSA's Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS). TEDS is a compilation of data on the demographic and substance abuse characteristics of admissions to substance abuse treatment. The data are routinely collected by State administrative systems and then submitted to SAMHSA in a standard format.

TEDS does not include all admissions to substance abuse treatment. It includes admissions to facilities that are licensed or certified by the State substance abuse agency to provide substance abuse treatment (or are administratively tracked by the agency for other reasons). TEDS does not include data from facilities operated by Federal agencies. The scope of facilities included in TEDS may differ from State to State due to differences in State systems of licensure, certification, accreditation, and funds disbursement.

Primary Content

Patient demographics; primary, secondary, and tertiary substance.

Population Targeted

Admissions to publicly funded substance abuse treatment facilities.

Demographic Data

Age, gender, ethnicity, race, and employment status.

Years Collected

Since 1992.

Schedule

Monthly or quarterly submissions from States; annual report.

Geographic Estimates

National and States.

Contact Information

Agency home page: http://www.samhsa.gov.

Data system home page: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/DASIS.htm.