2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases
Conducted annually, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) provides nationally representative data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs; substance use disorders; receipt of substance use treatment; mental health issues; and the use of mental health services among the civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 12 or older in the United States. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health. These reports and detailed tables present estimates from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
Jump to release sections below:
First Finding Reports
These three reports make up the First Finding Reports series for the 2016 NSDUH. The main report contains NSDUH data on substance use and substance use disorders, mental health issues among adults and adolescents, and co-occurring disorders. The other reports focus on specific topics, including receipt of treatment among adults, substance use initiation, and risk and protective factors.
View the slides based on the First Findings Report:
Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States (PDF | 8.13 MB)
Receipt of Services for Substance Use and Mental Health Issues Among Adults (PDF | 3.15 MB)
Risk and Protective Factors and Estimates of Substance Use Initiation (PDF | 3 MB)
Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States
The 2016 Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators report summarizes the following for the year 2016:
- Use of illicit drugs (such as, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants, as well as the misuse of opioids, prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives)
- Use of alcohol and tobacco products
- Rates and the number of substance use disorders
- Rates and the number of any mental illness, serious mental illness, and major depressive episode
- Estimates of suicidal thoughts, plans, and non-fatal attempts for adults ages 18 or older
Additionally, substance use trends are presented for 2002 to 2016, while trends for most mental health issues are reported for 2008 to 2016.
Receipt of Services for Substance Use and Mental Health Issues Among Adults
The receipt of Services for Substance Use and Mental Health Issues Among Adults report presents data from the 2016 NSDUH for substance use treatment and mental health service use among adults ages 18 or older in the United States.
Report estimates show receipt of services for:
- Substance use treatment by adults ages 18 to 25, and 26 or older, and
- Mental health service by adults ages 18 to 25, 26 to 49, and 50 or older.
Trends for most mental health service use are reported for 2008 to 2016; however, trends are not presented for substance use treatment because of methodological changes in 2015.
Risk and Protective Factors and Estimates of Substance Use Initiation
The Risk and Protective Factors and Estimates of Substance Use Initiation report presents data on how respondents perceive the harmfulness of using specific substances, as well as their availability. Youth-specific protective factors are also included, as well as estimates of recent initiation. Estimates are for specific age groups. Statistically significant differences between 2016 and prior years are noted for all estimates.
Detailed Tables
The 2016 NSDUH Detailed Tables present national estimates on substance use, mental health, and treatment in the United States. The tables’ focus is changes between 2015 and 2016 and trends from 2002 to 2016, as well as differences across population subgroups in 2016. Please refer to the Methodological Summary and Definitions report for more information on how to interpret these tables.
Please see the Introduction section for a description of changes to the measures, as well as more about the organization and purposes of the tables and table indicators.
Last Updated: 2/13/2025