VA Cooperative Studies Program (CSP)

Investigator Access 

What's Available

Research data: De-identified public-use and restricted-use data files of individual-level national survey data.

Available Documentation 

• Data dictionary / Codebook (PDF)
• Questionnaire and screening criteria (PDF)
• SAS, SPSS, STATA, ASCII datafile formats
• SDA, P-DAS, R-DAS for online-only (pending)
• Summary statistics for past years

Dates Data are Available

Currently available

Access Criteria 

Access for public-use of de-identified data is available to download in a variety of formats from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) website, by year.

Restricted-use data isn't currently available, but will eventually be available for online-only use for a limited set of analyses.

Study Characteristics

Objectives

The NSDUH series, formerly titled National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), is a primary source of statistical and trend information on substance use and mental illness among the U.S. population of noninstitutionalized civilians aged 12 or older.

Era of Service

All

Population

Non-institutionalized US civilians aged 12 years and older

Exclusion: No fixed household address, active-duty military personnel, residents of institutional group quarters

Study Design

Cross-sectional survey

Time Period

Conducted annually since 1990 and every 2-3 years from 1979 to 1990

Setting

National

N

See response rate

Response Rate

Recruitment Method

Introductory letters are sent to sampled addresses. Field interviewer uses household members and their basic demographic information to select 0 - 2 persons from the household to include in the sample.

Compensation

Data Collected

• Demographics
• Substance use such as tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, sedatives, and injection drugs
• Perceived risks of substance use, substance dependence or abuse
• Arrests
• Treatment for substance use problems
• Pregnancy and health care issues
• Mental health issues
• Immigration
• Current school enrollment
• Employment and workplace issues, health insurance coverage, and income

Data Collection Methods

In-person interviews at participant’s home, with use of computer-assisted interviewing (CAI), computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) and audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI).

Funding Sources

• Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Investigators 

Unconfirmed

Contact

Unconfirmed

Selected Publications

Odani S, Agaku IT, Graffunder CM, Tynan MA, Armour BS. Tobacco Product Use Among Military Veterans – United States, 2010-2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Jan 2018; 12;67(1):7-12. 

Snowden DL, Oh S, Salas-Wright CP, Vaughn MG, King E. Military service and crime: new evidence. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. May 2017; 52(5):605-615. 

Golub A, Vazan P, Bennett AS, Liberty HJ. Unmet need for treatment of substance abuse disorders and serious psychological distress among veterans: a nationwide analysis using the NSDUH. Mil Med. Jan 2013; 178(1):107-14.

White R, Barber C, Azrael D, Mukamal KJ, Miller M. History of military service and the risk of suicidal ideation: findings from the 2008 national survey on drug use and health. Suicide Life Threat Behav. Oct 2011; 41(5)554-61.

More Information

Study website