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2020 Methodological Summary and Definitions

Description:

Use this summary report to properly interpret 2020 NSDUH estimates of substance use and mental health issues. The report accompanies the annual detailed tables and covers overall methodology, key definitions for measures and terms used in 2020 NSDUH reports and tables, and selected analyses of the measures and how they should be interpreted.

 The report is organized into six chapters:

  1. Introduction.
  2. Description of the survey, including information about the sample design, data collection procedures, and key aspects of data processing such as development of the analysis weights.
  3. Technical details on the statistical methods and measurement, such as suppression criteria for unreliable estimates, statistical testing procedures, issues around data accuracy, and measurement issues for selected substance use and mental health measures.
  4. Special topics related to prescription psychotherapeutic drugs.
  5. A comparison between NSDUH and other sources of data on substance use and mental health issues, including data sources for populations outside the NSDUH target population.
  6. A more in-depth view of special methodological issues for the 2020 NSDUH, including those related to methodological changes made because of the Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic.

An appendix covers key definitions used in NSDUH reports and tables.

Publication Date:
October 25, 2021
Collection Date:
2020
Report Type:
Reference Material

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2023 Methodological Summary and Definitions
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Report Resources

Find crosswalks, public use files, and more on the NSDUH datafiles page.
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