Most data on this website comes from surveys. Survey data represent a valuable source
of information on prevalence estimates, use and behavior patterns, drug preferences,
and emerging trends. Survey data, however, are not without limitations. No single
survey exists which covers all populations abusing substances. Substance abuse surveys
typically fall into the following categories: 1) household surveys, 2) criminal
justice surveys, and 3) school surveys. These surveys can miss segments of the population
that have been impacted by substance abuse including the homeless population and
school dropouts. The survey data are self-report data and have inherent validity
concerns due to respondent dishonesty, forgetfulness, or poor comprehension. Assessments
of validity have been mixed. Research suggests that validity concerns are more evident
for the criminal justice population and for reporting use of some drugs such as
cocaine and heroin that may have an associated stigma. Nevertheless, collection
of alcohol and drug use data via surveys provides useful information on large diverse
populations that would not otherwise be available.
The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States. It is mandated by Article
I, Section 2 of the Constitution and takes place every 10 years.
The 2010 Census represented the most massive participation movement ever witnessed
in our country. Approximately 74 percent of the households returned their census
forms by mail; the remaining households were counted by census workers walking neighborhoods
throughout the United States. National and state population totals from the 2010
Census were released on December 21, 2010. Redistricting data, which include additional
state, county and local counts, will be released starting in February 2011. (
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/about/)
Because the data is collected from every household in the country, it is very reliable
data. However, data is only collected this way every 10 years so, towards the later
part of the decade, this data can be very outdated.
To assist with that, the American Community Survey (ACS) is a relatively new survey
conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It uses a series of monthly samples to produce
annually updated data for the same small areas (census tracts and block groups)
formerly surveyed via the decennial census long-form sample. Initially, 5 years
of samples will be required to produce these small-area data. Once the Census Bureau
has collected 5 years of data, new small-area data will be produced annually. The
Census Bureau also will produce 3-year and 1-year data products for larger geographic
areas. The ACS includes people living in both housing units (HUs) and group quarters
(GQs). The ACS is conducted throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, where
it is called the Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS). (http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/survey_methodology/acs_design_methodology_ch01.pdf)
Data from both surveys are listed under Census data on this website. Additional
data can be found at http://www.census.gov/.
Multiple state agencies have been collaborating since 1996 to produce the Department
of Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division’s Status Report. This collaboration
has allowed a more comprehensive overview of substance abuse and the associated
consequences. Data has been provided from the following agencies:
Data that has been previously found in the Status Report can now be found on this
website.
As NSDUH is administered by a computer, the survey can be customized to the participant.
This means that answers to prior questions can change the format of the wording
of the next question. Below are example questions but, while the wording would be
similar enough to aggregate the data, these may not be the exact questions seen
by the participant. Several of the items are also an aggregation of a scale so no
single question applies. Words shown in [brackets] are filled in by the computer
to reflect the current situation during the survey administration. The entire protocol
for the 2010 survey can be found at
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k10MRB/2k10Q.pdf.
Data from the Missouri Student Survey is presented from several years to allow
for trend analysis. This should be done cautiously however, as both the protocol
and the questions have changed from year to year. The table below shows the
question wording for 2010 and, if it is different, the wording for the question
in 2006 and 2008. All questions are the same between 2006 and 2008. In some
cases, the change is minor and should probably not influence the responses. In
others, the wording change was probably sufficient to influence the responses.
The binge question for example changed from asking about behavior in the last
two weeks to behavior in the last month. In cases where the wording change was
extreme, or if no similar question was asked in prior years, only 2010 data is
included in the database. In 2008 schools were allowed the option of moving from
active consent (parents have to opt their child into the survey) to passive
consent (parents need to opt their child out or the survey will be given).
Research has shown that passive consent allows the survey to reach more at risk
youth, which would influence the survey results.
In 2010 the survey began to be
administered with skip patterns, primarily for the substance use questions. A
youth who, for example, said he had never smoked a cigarette in his life would
be automatically moved past the remaining questions about cigarette smoking.
Prior to this, a youth would see all questions but would have the option to
check (again as an example) “I have never smoked cigarettes” as an answer.
Problems arose when a youth checked “no” to lifetime use but then in the later
questions indicated that he was using the substance. In those circumstances, as
part of the data cleaning, answers would be changed to reflect the most specific
answer i.e. if they said “no” to the lifetime question but then said they had
smoked on 5 days in the last month, the lifetime answer would be changed to
“yes”.
Finally, starting with the 2010 Missouri Student Survey report, data was
weighted. This means that the data was adjusted to reflect the demographic
characteristics of each county, which provides a more accurate representation of
the student population. Because this is done after the data is collected, it was
possible to go back and also weight the 2006 and 2008 data sets. All Missouri
Student Survey data found on this website is weighted so that it can be
compared. However, data from this website should not be compared with reports
prior to 2010 that have been issued by the Department of Mental Health or data
that has been obtained through the Missouri Institute of Mental Health prior to
2010.
Additional information on weighting within the MSS: Because school
district participation in the MSS is encouraged but not mandatory, and because
districts are not required to survey students in all grade levels, the raw data
set does not evenly represent the Missouri public school population as a whole.
Therefore statistical adjustments to this sample were made to assure the
generalizability of findings across grade levels, gender, ethnicity, and
geographic location, and to allow for accurate longitudinal and national
comparisons. Specifically, the MSS data set was post-stratified to 2009 census
estimates for the state of Missouri
(http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/pub/webrepts/casrh09/mor2county.pdf). The sample was
weighted, adjusting the proportions to more accurately reflect the population in
the states’ 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. Within each of those
counties, the sample was also weighted according to county population estimates
of age group (10-15; 15-19), gender (male, female), race (Black, White, Other),
and Hispanicity. Weighting followed NSDUH methodology, which grouped youth into
the 10-14 and the 15-17 age categories and did not weight by individual grades
or ages. Grade distribution thus follows the underlying distribution of the
sample obtained.
| Indicator Name on Website | Exact Wording of Question in the Survey 2010 | Exact Wording of Question in the Survey 2006 & 2008 |
|---|
| Perception of school safety | I feel safe at school. | N/A |
| Perception of safety to and from school | I feel safe going to or from school. | N/A |
| Students help decide class activities | In my school, students have lots of chances to help decide things like class activities and rules. | Same |
| Teachers ask students to work on projects | Teachers ask me to work on classroom projects. | Same |
| Teachers notice and comment on good work | My teacher(s) notice(s) when I am doing a good job and let me know about it. | Same |
| Chances to get involved at school | There are a lot of chances at school for me to get involved in sports, clubs, and other school activities outside of class. | Same |
| Chances to talk one on one with a teacher | There are lots of chances for students in my school to talk with a teacher one-on-one. | Same |
| School notifies parents with praise | The school lets my parents know when I have done something well. | Same |
| Teachers praise students | My teachers praise me when I work hard in school. | Same |
| Chances to participate in class | I have lots of chances to be part of class discussions or activities. | Same |
| Rules are enforced fairly | Rules are enforced fairly. | N/A |
| No discrimination in student treatment | Students of all races and ethnic groups are treated equally. | N/A |
| Peer smoking cigarettes | During the past year (12 months), how many of the friends you feel closest to have smoked cigarettes? | Think of your four best friends (the friends you feel closest to). In the past year (12 months), how many of your best friends have:: a. Smoked cigarettes |
| Peer alcohol use | During the past year (12 months), how many of the friends you feel closest to have had a drink of any type of alcohol? | Think of your four best friends (the friends you feel closest to). In the past year (12 months), how many of your best friends have:: b. Tried beer, wine or hard liquor (for example vodka, whiskey, gin) when their parents did not know |
| Peer smoking marijuana | During the past year (12 months), how many of the friends you feel closest to have smoked marijuana? | Think of your four best friends (the friends you feel closest to). In the past year (12 months), how many of your best friends have:: c. Used marijuana |
| Peer other illicit drug use | During the past year (12 months), how many of the friends you feel closest to have used any other illegal drugs? | N/A |
| Peer gun carrying | During the past year (12 months), how many of the friends you feel closest to have carried a gun (exc for hunting or sport)? | N/A |
| Perception of enforcement - cigarettes | If a kid smoked cigarettes in your neighborhood, or the area around where you live, would he or she be caught by the police? | Same |
| Perception of enforcement - alcohol | If a kid drank some beer, wine, or hard liquor (for example vodka, whiskey, or gin) in your neighborhood, or the area around where you live, would he or she be caught by the police? | Same |
| Perception of enforcement - marijuana | If a kid smoked marijuana in your neighborhood, or the area around where you live, would he or she be caught by the police? | Same |
| Perception of enforcement - guns | If a kid was found carrying a gun in your neighborhood would he or she be caught by the police? | N/A |
| Past month weapon carrying | During the past 30 days, on how many days did you carry a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club? | N/A |
| Past month gun carrying | During the past 30 days, on how many days did you carry a gun? | N/A |
| Past month weapon carrying at school | During the past 30 days, on how many days did you carry a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club on school property? | N/A |
| Past month school missed due to feeling unsafe | During the past 30 days, how often did you not go to school because you felt unsafe at or on your way to school? | N/A |
| Past 3 month rumor spreading | How often in the past 3 months have you spread mean rumors or lies about other kids at school? | N/A |
| Past 3 month bullying online | How often in the past 3 months have you used the internet to post pictures or text that might embarrass or hurt a student? | N/A |
| Past 3 month bullying via cell | How often in the past 3 months have you used a cell phone to send text msgs or pix that might embarrass or hurt a student? | N/A |
| Past 3 month emotional bullying | How often in the past 3 months have you made fun of other people? | N/A |
| Past 3 month victim of rumor spreading | How often in the past 3 months have you had mean rumors or lies spread about you at school? | N/A |
| Past 3 month victim of bullying online | How often in the past 3 months have you had pix or text that embarrassed or hurt you posted via the Internet? | N/A |
| Past 3 month victim of bullying via cell | How often in the past 3 months have you had embarrassing or hurtful text or pict cell phone messages sent about you? | N/A |
| Past 3 month victim of emotional bullying | How often in the past 3 months have you been made fun of? | N/A |
| Past 3 month school discipline | How often in the past 3 months have you been sent to the office for disciplinary reasons? | N/A |
| Past 3 month school detention | How often in the past 3 months have you been in in-school suspension or detention? | N/A |
| Past 3 month school suspension | How often in the past 3 months have you been suspended from school? | N/A |
| Past year victim of bullying at school | During the past 12 months, have you ever been bullied on school property? | How many times in the past year (the last 12 months) have you:: d. Been pushed, shoved, slapped, hit, or kicked by someone who wasn't just kidding around? |
| Past year victim of weapon threat at school | During the past 12 months, how often has someone threatened or injured you with a weapon on school property | How many times in the past year (the last 12 months) have you:: e. Been threatened or injured with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club? |
| Past year fighting | During the past 12 months, how often were you in a physical fight? | How many times in the past year (the last 12 months) have you:: b. Been in a physical fight? |
| Past year fighting with injury | During the past 12 months, how often were you in a fight where you were hurt & had to be treated by a doctor or nurse? | N/A |
| Student ignores rules | I ignore rules that get in my way. | Same |
| Student engages in fighting if provoked | It is all right to beat up people if they start the fight. | Same |
| Student believes in being honest with parent | It is important to be honest with your parents, even if they become upset or you get punished. | N/A |
| Student is oppositional | I do the opposite of what people tell me, just to get them mad. | Same |
| Student believes it is ok to steal | I think it is okay to take something without asking if you can get away with it. | N/A |
| Student believes it is ok to cheat | I think sometimes it is okay to cheat at school. | Same |
| Depression scale - Student very sad | In the last 30 days how often were you very sad? | N/A |
| Depression scale - Student irritable | In the last 30 days how often were you grouchy or irritable, or in a bad mood? | N/A |
| Depression scale - Student feels hopeless | In the last 30 days how often did you feel hopeless about the future? | N/A |
| Depression scale - Student eating disruption | In the last 30 days how often did you feel like not eating or eating more than usual? | N/A |
| Depression scale - Student sleeping disruption | In the last 30 days how often did you sleep a lot more or a lot less than usual? | N/A |
| Depression scale - Student school work disruption | In the last 30 days how often did you have difficulty focusing on your school work? | N/A |
| Past year contemplating suicide | During the past 12 months, did you ever seriously consider attempting suicide? | Same |
| Past year planning suicide | During the past 12 months, did you make a plan about how you would attempt suicide? | Same |
| Past year attempting suicide | During the past 12 months, how many times did you actually attempt suicide? | Same |
| Past year suicide with injury | If you attempted suicide during the past 12 months, did any attempt result in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse? | Same |
| Ease of availability - cigarettes | If you wanted to get some cigarettes, how easy would it be for you to get some? | Same |
| Ease of availability - alcohol | If you wanted to get some alcohol (beer, wine, brandy, and mixed drinks), how easy would it be for you to get some? | If you wanted to get some beer, wine, or hard liquor (for example, vodka, whiskey, or gin) how easy would it be for you to get some? |
| Ease of availability - marijuana | If you wanted to get some marijuana, how easy would it be for you to get some? | Same |
| Ease of availability - other illicit drugs | How easy to get other illegal drugs such as cocaine, LSD (acid), methamphetamine (meth.), or club drugs (ecstasy, roofies)? | If you wanted to get drugs like cocaine, LSD, or amphetamines, how easy would it be for you to get some? |
| Ease of availability - guns | If you wanted to get a gun, how easy would it be for you to get one? | Same |
| Perception of harm - cigarettes | How much do you think people risk harming themselves (physically or in other ways) if they smoke cigarettes? | N/A |
| Perception of harm - marijuana | How much do you think people risk harming themselves (physically or in other ways) if they use marijuana? | N/A |
| Perception of harm - marijuana | How much do you think people risk harming themselves (physically or in other ways) if they use marijuana? | N/A |
| Perception of harm - alcohol | How much do you think people risk harming themselves (physically or in other ways) if they drink of any type of alcohol? | N/A |
| Perception of harm - other illicit drugs | How much do you think people risk harming themselves (physically or in other ways) if they use any other illegal drugs? | N/A |
| Perception of wrongness - cigarettes | How wrong do you feel it would be for you to smoke cigarettes? | How wrong do you think it is for someone your age to:: Smoke cigarettes? |
| Perception of wrongness - alcohol | How wrong do you feel it would be for you to have a drink of any type of alcohol? | How wrong do you think it is for someone your age to:: Drink beer, wine, or hard liquor (for example vodka, whiskey, or gin) regularly? |
| Perception of wrongness - marijuana | How wrong do you feel it would be for you to use marijuana? | How wrong do you think it is for someone your age to:: Smoke marijuana? |
| Perception of wrongness - other illicit drugs | How wrong do you feel it would be for you to use any other illegal drugs such as cocaine, LSD (acid), meth, etc? | N/A |
| Perception of wrongness - fighting | How wrong do you feel it would be for you to attack someone with the idea of seriously hurting them? | N/A |
| Past month riding with a driver under the influence | Over last 30 days, on how many days did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol? | During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol? |
| Past two weeks binge drinking | During the past 30 days, on how many days did you have 5 or more drinks on the same occasion (i.e. within a couple of hours)? | Think back over the last two weeks. How many times have you had five or more alcoholic drinks in a row? |
| Past month driving under the influence | During the past 30 days, on how many days did you drive a car or other vehicle when you had been drinking alcohol? | During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle when you had been drinking alcohol? |
| Lifetime gambling | Have you ever gambled (e.g., played poker or cards for money, bet on sports teams, bought lottery tickets or tabs, etc.)? | N/A |
| Past month gambling | What is your best estimate of the number of days you gambled in the past 30 days? | N/A |
| Lifetime money lost to gambling | What is your best estimate of the total amount of money you have lost by gambling? | N/A |
| Parents notice students good work | My parents notice when I am doing a good job and let me know about it. | My parents know when I am doing a good job and let me know about it. |
| Parents consult student when making decisions | My parents ask me what I think before most family decisions affecting me are made. | Same |
| Parents tell the student when they've done well | My parents tell me that they are proud of me for something I have done. | How often do your parents tell you that they are proud of you for something you have done? |
| Student believes parents could be asked for help | If I had a personal problem, I could ask my mom or dad for help. | Same |
| Parents give the student chances to have fun | My parents give me lots of chances to do fun things with them. | Same |
| Parents check on student's homework | My parents ask if I have gotten my homework done. | Same |
| Perception of parental feelings on student cigarette use | How wrong would your parents feel it would be for you to smoke part or all of a cigarette? | How wrong do your parents feel it would be for you to:: Smoke cigarettes? |
| Perception of parental feelings on student alcohol use | How wrong would your parents feel it would be for you to have a drink of any type of alcohol? | How wrong do your parents feel it would be for you to:: Drink beer, wine, or hard liquor (for example, vodka, whiskey, or gin) regularly (at least once or twice a month)? |
| Perception of parental feelings on student marijuana use | How wrong would your parents feel it would be for you to use marijuana or hashish? | How wrong do your parents feel it would be for you to:: Smoke marijuana? |
| Perception of parental feelings on fighting to defend self | How wrong do your parents feel it would be for you to defend yourself from a physical fight? | N/A |
| Perception of parental feelings on student illicit drug use | How wrong would your parents feel it would be for you to use any other illegal drugs like cocaine, LSD (acid), meth, etc? | N/A |
| Perception of parental feelings on fighting | How wrong do your parents feel it would be for you to start a physical fight? | How wrong do your parents feel it would be for you to:: Pick a fight with someone? |
| Past month cigarette use | What is your best estimate of the number of days you smoked part or all of a cigarette during the past 30 days? | During the past 30 days, on how many days did you smoke cigarettes? |
| Lifetime cigarette use | Have you ever smoked part or all of a cigarette? | Have you ever smoked cigarettes? |
| Lifetime alcohol use | Have you ever, even once, had a drink of any type of alcohol (other than just a sip or two for religious purposes)? | During your life, how many times have you had at least one drink of alcohol? |
| Past month alcohol use | What is your best estimate of the number of days you drank alcohol during the past 30 days? | During the past 30 days, how many times have you had at least one drink of alcohol? |
| Lifetime chew use | Have you ever used chewing tobacco such as Redman, Levi Garrett, Beechnut, Skoal, Skoal Bandits, or Copenhagen or snuff (dip), even once? | Same |
| Past month chew use | What is your best estimate of the number of days you used chewing tobacco or snuff during the past 30 days? | During the past 30 days, on how many days did you use chewing tobacco, such as Redman, Levi Garrett, Beechnut, Skoal, Skoal Bandits, or Copenhagen? |
| Lifetime cigar use | Have you ever smoked part or all of any type of cigar? | N/A |
| Past month cigar use | What is your best estimate of the number of days you smoked part or all of a cigar during the past 30 days? | N/A |
| Lifetime marijuana use | Have you ever, even once, used marijuana? | How many times (if any) have you used marijuana in your lifetime? |
| Past month marijuana use | What is your best estimate of the number of days you used marijuana during the past 30 days? | How many times (if any) have you used marijuana during the past 30 days? |
| Lifetime inhalant use | Have you ever, even once, used inhalants? | How many times (if any) have you sniffed glue, breathed the contents of an aerosol spray can, or inhaled other gases or sprays in order to get high in your lifetime? |
| Past month inhalant use | What is your best estimate of the number of days you used inhalants during the past 30 days? | How many times (if any) have you sniffed glue, breathed the contents of an aerosol spray can, or inhaled other gases or sprays in order to get high during the past 30 days? |
| Lifetime prescription drug abuse | Have you ever, even once, used prescription medication that was not prescribed for you by a doctor? (excluding “over-the-counter” medications) | N/A |
| Past month prescription drug abuse | What is your best estimate of the number of days in the past 30 days you used any prescription medication that was not prescribed for you by a doctor? | N/A |
| Lifetime over the counter drug abuse | Have you ever, even once, used “over-the-counter” medications for non-medical reasons? | N/A |
| Past month over the counter drug abuse | What is your best estimate of the number of days in the past 30 days you used any “over-the-counter” medication for non-medical reasons? | N/A |
| Lifetime cocaine use | Have you ever, even once, used any form of cocaine? | How many times have you used crack or freebase forms of cocaine in your lifetime? |
| Lifetime heroin use | Have you ever, even once, used heroin (also called smack or H)? | N/A |
| Lifetime hallucinogen use | Have you ever, even once, used hallucinogens such as LSD (acid), PCP (angel dust), Magic Mushrooms, Mescaline, Peyote, or Psilocybin? | N/A |
| Lifetime methamphetamine use | Have you ever, even once, used methamphetamine (known as meth, crank, crystal, or ice)? | N/A |
| Lifetime club drug use | Have you ever, even once, used any type of club drug including MDMA (ecstasy, X, E), GHB (G), Rohypnol (roofie), and Ketamine (Special K)? | How many times (if any) have you used ecstasy or other club drugs (e.g., GHB, Rohypnol, ketamine) in your lifetime? |
| Lifetime steroid use | Have you ever, even once, used any type of steroid that was not prescribed for you? | How many times (if any) have you taken steroid pills or shots, without a doctor's prescription in your lifetime? |