2019 Main Study Modules

Main 2019 Questionnaire Content and Summary of the need for each topic area

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is the primary source for statistical information on illicit drug use, alcohol use, substance use disorders (SUDs), and mental health issues for the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Information on mental health and substance use allows the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other policymakers to gauge progress toward improving the health of the nation.

NSDUH is also the only survey of substance use and mental health in the U.S. that allows for production of high-quality national and state prevalence estimates. The survey also allows for estimation if the incidence of substance use and for the production of estimates by various socio-demographic variables. The data provides estimates of substance use and mental health issues at the national, state, and sub-state levels. NSDUH data is used to identify the extent of substance use and mental illness among various subpopulations, track estimates over time, and determine the need for treatment services

The 2019 NSDUH is a face-to-face household interview survey that uses a computerized (CAPI/ ACASI) instrument based on the 2018 questionnaire. The interview consists of a combination of interviewer-administered (CAPI) and self-administered (ACASI) questions.

Front End CAPI Modules

Interview administered questions at the beginning of the interview consist of initial demographic items and a respondent completed computer practice session. Demographic data are used to produced estimates of substance use and mental health for subpopulations of interest.

• Introduction

• Core Demographics

• Beginning ACASI Sections

• Tutorial

• Calendar

Substance Use Modules

The first set of self-administered questions pertain to substance use, both licit and illicit substances. The NSDUH obtains information on two categories of licit substances: tobacco and alcohol, and nine categories of illicit drugs: marijuana, cocaine (including crack,) heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, and misuse of prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives. The substance use histories collected by the NSDUH allow estimation of incidence, prevalence, and patterns of use for licit and illicit substances

Licit substances:

• Tobacco: Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Tobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking, imposes substantial health and financial costs on our nation. NSDUH data can estimate the percentage of individuals who use tobacco products and, in turn, can be used to monitor changes in use over time.

• Alcohol: Excessive alcohol use is associated with an array of social, economic, and health costs. The NSDUH includes measures of alcohol use and as well binge and heavy alcohol use.

Illicit substances: Illicit drug use, including the misuse of prescription medications, affects the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Use of illicit substances can lead to substance use disorder and is associated with both physical and mental health issues. Cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis, and lung disease can all be affected by drug use. Some of these effects occur when drugs are used at high doses or after prolonged use. However, other adverse effects can occur after only one or a few occasions of use. 

• Marijuana

• Cocaine

• Crack

• Heroin

• Hallucinogens

• Inhalants

• Methamphetamines

• Misuse of Prescription Drugs including Pain Relievers, Tranquilizers, Stimulants, Sedatives

Other Substance Related Question

The follow section ask about a variety of sensitive topics related to substance use. These topics include (but are not limited to) injection drug use, perceived risk of substance use, substance use disorder (SUD), arrests, and treatment for substance use problems.

• Special Drugs: This section contains questions about additional substances and mode of administration of interest to the agency.

• Risk and Availability: Whether someone engages in substance use is often related to exposure to factors that are typically associated with an increased likelihood of substance use (i.e., risk factors) or factors that are typically associated with a decreased likelihood of substance use (i.e., protective factors) as well as the availability of certain substances.

• Blunts: Additional questions about the use marijuana blunts

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD): Reducing SUDs and related problems is critical to Americans' mental and physical health, safety, and quality of life. These disorders contribute heavily to the burden of disease in the United States. Excessive substance use and SUDs are costly to our nation due to lost productivity, health care, and crime. Annual estimates of the prevalence of substance use disorders can help determine the need for treatment and other services in the nation.

• Special Topics: This section includes questions about encounters with police and the court system which are of interests to Bureau of Justice Statistics and the agency. Estimates of mental health and substance use are needed by criminal justice status.

• Prior Substance Use

• Drug Treatment: This module asks about experiences with treatment for a drug or alcohol problem. Drug treatment items are needed to determine the prevalence of treatment receipt and the need for treatment.

Mental Health

The following sections ask about a variety of sensitive topics related to health and mental health. Understanding the percentage of the population with mental disorders is important for gauging progress toward preventing the occurrence or progression of mental health concerns and in assessing the need for mental health services among adolescents or adults.

Because mental health issues are correlates of substance abuse, NSDUH continues to include questions on mental health and utilization of mental health services in NSDUH. Questions on mental health, in conjunction with questions on substance use, treatment for substance use, and mental health services, greatly enhance the ability to characterize and understand the co-occurrence and treatment of mental illness and substance use problems in the United States.

• Mental Health

• Adult and Adolescent Depression

• Adult and Youth Mental Health Service Utilization

Correlates of Substance Use and Mental Health

These sections include correlates of substance use and mental health that allow for estimates by subpopulations of interest.

• Health: This sections includes several important correlates of substance use and mental health including pregnancy status, height and weight, and health conditions.

• Social Environment, and Parenting and Youth Experiences: These data are used to assess demographic patterns and trends in the prevalence of substance use and mental health factors, as well as examining their relationships with measures of substance use. Data are used to assess the impact of prevention efforts at the national level.

Back End ACASI

The following sections ask additional questions about alcohol consumption, marijuana purchasing information, disability, employment, and workplace issues.

• Consumption of Alcohol

• Market Information for Marijuana

• Back End Demographics

• Education

• Employment

Back End CAPI

The interviewer-administered CAPI section at the end of the interview ask about the household composition, the respondent’s health insurance coverage, and the respondent’s personal and family income.

• Household Roster

• Health Insurance

• Income

• Verification