Is the NSDUH data from 2022 and later comparable with data from 2021?

Many (but not all) NSDUH estimates from 2022 and 2023 are comparable with estimates from 2021 as long as updated 2021 estimates presented in the 2022 Detailed Tables are used. When the NSDUH moved from in-person-only survey administration to a multi-mode approach (with both in-person and web modes), it was determined that the mode of administration affected the resulting estimates. The proportion of interviews that were completed in person was lower in 2021 than it was in 2022, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this, estimates for 2021 were updated using adjusted weights to account for changes in the proportions of web vs. in-person interviews. The resulting updated 2021 estimates set the contributions of respondents for each mode to the same proportions as the 2022 estimates, thus removing the potential for bias in estimates of change due to shifts from the web to in-person interviewing. For more details, see section 3.3.3 of the 2022 NSDUH Methodological Summary and Definitions.

SAMHSA has no plans to re-release the 2021 National Report and Detailed Tables, and the 2021 NSDUH National Report and 2021 Detailed Tables do not present this updated data. Therefore, these documents should not be used to compare estimates between 2021 and 2022. The updated 2021 estimates are available in the 2022 Detailed Tables. Consequently, estimates for 2021 listed in the 2022 Detailed Tables may differ slightly from these previously released estimates.