Who uses NSDUH data?

Many different researchers and organizations use NSDUH data. The following list does not include all the users of NSDUH data, but it provides examples of the ways in which the data from this important study are used.

• The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) uses NSDUH data to track progress toward goals in the National Drug Control Strategy.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, prepares statistical reports on substance use patterns and trends. SAMHSA uses the data to identify populations and geographic areas with particular substance abuse problems so federal resources can be used efficiently for prevention and treatment programs.
• The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids (formerly The Partnership for a Drug-Free America) uses NSDUH data to design media advertising campaigns for the prevention of substance use and abuse.
• Based on the trends and patterns of substance use evident in the data, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) develops research programs targeted toward populations and types of drug use problems where the need is greatest.
• University-based researchers use NSDUH data to conduct research on important substance use issues, such as the risk and protective factors associated with substance use, personal and societal consequences of substance use, and the impact of policy decisions for dealing with the substance abuse problem.
• Substance abuse agencies at the state and local level use NSDUH data to assess the potential need for treatment services and to design programs that fit the needs of populations served.
• State and local health departments use NSDUH data to assess area substance use problems and to develop appropriate funding strategies and prevention measures.
• The U.S. Department of Education uses the data to inform drug use prevention and education programs and provide educational materials for teachers and administrators.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation uses NSDUH data on driving after alcohol and illicit drug use to develop prevention programs and materials on impaired driving.
• The Office on Smoking and Health, a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), uses NSDUH data to study trends and patterns in youth tobacco use and to develop strategies for reducing youth tobacco use.
• Newspaper, television and radio reporters use NSDUH data in their stories on substance use and abuse.