National Survey on Drug Use & Health (SAMHSA)
The United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration conducts an annual survey in the United States, using scientific methods, to provide information that they describe as “the prevalence, patterns, and consequences of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use and abuse in the general U.S. civilian non institutionalized population, age 12 and older.” The survey also asks other health related questions, including mental health.
Recent Survey Results
Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR)
University of Maryland at College Park
“The Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR), at the University of Maryland at College Park, is dedicated to addressing the problems substance abuse creates for individuals, families, and communities. To this end, the mission of CESAR is to inform policymakers, practitioners, and the general public about substance abuse—its nature and extent, its prevention and treatment, and its relation to other problems. In pursuing its mission, CESAR conducts policy-relevant research and evaluation studies, disseminates statistical and other information, assists in training students in substance abuse research methods and policy analysis, and provides technical assistance to agencies and organizations working in substance abuse related fields.”
CESAR provides three primary information services:
- The CESAR website, provides substance abuse-related information.
- The CESAR library serves as a clearinghouse of information on substance abuse and related topics.
Leading Causes of Death in the U.S. (CDC)
The United States Center for Disease Control publishes figures for the leading causes of death in the country. The most recent year for which data is available is 2009.
Monitoring the Future (MTF) (funded by NIDA)
The National Institute on Drug Abuse states: “Since 1975 the MTF survey has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide. Survey participants report their drug use behaviors across three time periods: lifetime, past year, and past month. Overall, 46,733 students from 400 public and private schools in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades participated in this year’s survey. The survey is funded by the NIDA, a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and conducted by the University of Michigan.”
2011 Monitoring the Future – Secondary Students
Data for the 2011 adolescent survey is contained in the following .pdf file.
2011 Monitoring the Future – College Students (ages 19 – 50 )
College students were also surveyed this year. The report is contained in the following .pdf file.
