The following key lists selected demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic and health characteristic variables along with substance use and mental health variables used throughout the Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. This key also provides the specific categories displayed for each variable in the tables. Definitions for many of the measures listed in the key are available in Appendix A. The label assigned to each variable listed in the key maps directly to the labels used in the table of contents but may differ slightly from those used in the detailed tables. For example, in the detailed tables, age category variables are typically referred to as “age group” or “detailed age categories”; however, in this key and the table of contents, more detailed labels (e.g., adult age categories, youth age categories, college age categories) are provided for the various age breakdowns. This key can be used in conjunction with the Table of Contents and other tools described in the Reference Tools section to help navigate the detailed tables.
Standard Age Categories: 12 or Older, 12-17, 18 or Older, 18-25, 26 or Older
Adult Age Categories: 18 or Older, 18-25, 26 or Older, 26 to 49, 50 or Older
Youth Age Categories: 12-17, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17
Detailed Age Categories: 12 or Older, 12-20, 21 or Older, 12-17, 12-13, 14-15, 16‑17, 18 or Older, 18-25, 18-20, 21-25, 26 or Older, 26‑49, 26-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50 or Older, 50‑54, 55-59, 60-64, 65 or Older
Adult Detailed Age Categories: 18 or Older, 18-25, 18-20, 21-25, 26 or Older, 26-49, 26-29, 30‑34, 35‑39, 40-44, 45-49, 50 or Older, 50-54, 55-59, 60‑64, 65 or Older
Substance Use Initiation Age Categories: 12 or Older, 12-25, 12-17, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18 or Older, 18-25, 18-20, 21-25, 26 or Older
Age at Initiation Categories: Prior to Age 18, Prior to Age 21, at Age 21 or Older
Underage/Legal Drinking Age Categories: 12-20, 21 or Older
Underage Age Categories: 12-20, 12-14, 15-17, 18-20
Pregnancy Age Categories: 15-44, 15-17, 18-25, 26-44
College Age Categories: 18-22, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Driving Age Categories: 16 or Older, 16-25, 16-20, 21-25, 26 or Older
Probation/Parole Age Categories: 18 or Older, 18-49, 18-25, 26-34, 35-49
Gender: Male, Female
Gender/Youth Age Categories: Male 12-17, Female 12-17
Gender/Adult Age Categories: Male 18 or Older, Male 18-49, Female 18 or Older, Female 18-49
Hispanic Origin and Race: Not Hispanic or Latino; Not Hispanic or Latino, White; Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American; Not Hispanic or Latino, AIAN (American Indian or Alaska Native); Not Hispanic or Latino, NHOPI (Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander); Not Hispanic or Latino, Asian; Not Hispanic or Latino, Two or More Races; Hispanic or Latino
Gender/Race/Hispanic Origin: Male White, Not Hispanic; Female White, Not Hispanic; Male Black, Not Hispanic; Female Black, Not Hispanic; Male Hispanic; Female Hispanic
Education Level: Less Than High School, High School Graduate, Some College or Associate’s Degree, College Graduate (Note: This variable is defined for adults aged 18 or older.)
College Enrollment Status: Full-Time College Students, Other People (including not enrolled in school, enrolled in college part time, enrolled in other grades full or part time, or enrolled with no other information available)
Employment Status: Full-Time, Part-Time, Unemployed, Other (including students, people keeping house or caring for children full time, retired or disabled people, or other people not in the labor force) (Note: This variable is defined for adults aged 18 or older.)
Family Income: Less Than $20,000, $20,000-$49,999, $50,000-$74,999, $75,000 or More
Region: Northeast, Midwest, South, West
County Type: Large Metro; Small Metro; Nonmetro (including urbanized counties, less urbanized counties, or completely rural counties)
Poverty Level: Three Categories for Poverty Level Defined Relative to the Poverty Threshold: Less Than 100 Percent, 100 to 199 Percent, 200 Percent or More
Health Insurance: Private Health Insurance, Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Other (including Medicare, military-related health care, or any other type of health insurance), No Coverage
Overall Health: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair/Poor
Pregnancy Status: Pregnant, Not Pregnant
Trimester: First, Second, Third
Probation Status: On Probation, Not on Probation
Parole/Supervised Release Status: On Parole/Supervised Release, Not on Parole/Supervised Release
Prescription Psychotherapeutics: Psychotherapeutics, Pain Relievers, Stimulants, Tranquilizers or Sedatives, Tranquilizers, Sedatives, Benzodiazepines
Illicit Drug Use/Misuse: Use of Illicit Drugs, Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Hallucinogens, LSD, PCP, Ecstasy, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Illicit Drugs Other Than Marijuana; Misuse of Prescription Psychotherapeutics, Opioids, Central Nervous System Stimulants
Selected Illicit Drug Use/Misuse: All Illicit Drug Use/Misuse Excluding Use of Heroin, LSD, PCP, Ecstasy; Misuse of Prescription Psychotherapeutics
Tobacco Product Use: Use of Tobacco Products, Cigarettes, Smokeless Tobacco (i.e., Snuff, Dip, Chewing Tobacco, or “Snus”), Cigars, Pipe Tobacco; Daily Cigarette Use
Selected Tobacco Product Use: All Tobacco Product Use Excluding Use of Pipe Tobacco; Daily Cigarette Use
Selected Tobacco Product Use and Nicotine Vaping: Use of Tobacco Products or Nicotine Vaping; Selected Tobacco Product Use; Nicotine Vaping
Alcohol Use: Use of Alcohol; Binge Alcohol Use, Heavy Alcohol Use
Risk: Perceived Risk Associated with Use of Cigarettes, Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, LSD, Alcohol
Availability: Perceived Availability of Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, LSD; Approached by Someone Selling Drugs
Drugs Used with Alcohol: Marijuana, Cocaine (including Crack), Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine
Use of General Substances: Illicit Drugs, Tobacco Products, or Alcohol; Illicit Drugs or Alcohol; Tobacco Products or Alcohol
Other Substance Use: GHB, Nonprescription Cough or Cold Medicine, Kratom, Synthetic Marijuana (fake weed, K2, spice), Synthetic Stimulants (“bath salts,” flakka)
Days Used Specific Substances: Past Year Use of Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Alcohol; Past Month Use of Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Cigarettes, Smokeless Tobacco, Cigars, Alcohol, Binge Alcohol; Past Month Misuse of Prescription Pain Relievers, Prescription Stimulants, Prescription Tranquilizers, Prescription Sedatives
Daily or Almost Daily Use of Specific Substances: Daily or Almost Daily Use in Past Year of Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Alcohol; Daily or Almost Daily Use in Past Month of Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Smokeless Tobacco, Cigars, Alcohol, Binge Alcohol; Daily or Almost Daily Misuse in Past Month of Prescription Pain Relievers, Prescription Stimulants, Prescription Tranquilizers, Prescription Sedatives; Daily Use in Past Month of Cigarettes; Smoked One or More Packs of Cigarettes per Day in Past Month
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) for Specific Substances: Use of Illicit Drugs, Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Illicit Drugs Other Than Marijuana; Misuse of Prescription Psychotherapeutics, Prescription Pain Relievers, Prescription Stimulants, Prescription Tranquilizers or Sedatives, Prescription Tranquilizers, Prescription Sedatives, Prescription Benzodiazepines, Opioids, Central Nervous System Stimulants; Use of Alcohol, Illicit Drugs and Alcohol, Illicit Drugs or Alcohol, Illicit Drugs Only, Alcohol Only
SUD Status for Specific Substances: All SUD for Specific Substances, No SUD
SUD Status for Selected Substances: No SUD, Illicit Drug Use Disorder, Marijuana Use Disorder, Opioid Use Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder, Both Illicit Drug and Alcohol Use Disorder, Illicit Drug or Alcohol Use Disorder
SUD Status: Illicit Drug Use Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder, Both Illicit Drug and Alcohol Use Disorder, SUD, No SUD
Substances for Last or Current Treatment: Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Pain Relievers, Tranquilizers, Stimulants, Sedatives, Alcohol
Substance Use Treatment at Specialty Facility Status: Received Treatment at Specialty Facility, Did Not Receive Treatment at Specialty Facility
Locations: Hospital – Inpatient, Rehabilitation Facility – Inpatient, Rehabilitation Facility – Outpatient, Mental Health Center – Outpatient, Emergency Room, Private Doctor’s Office, Self-Help Group, Prison/Jail
Sources of Payment: Private Health Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Public Assistance Other Than Medicaid, Own Savings or Earnings, Family Members, Courts, Military-Related Health Care, Employer
Mental Illness: Any Mental Illness, Serious Mental Illness, Any Mental Illness Excluding Serious Mental Illness
Levels of Mental Illness: Mental Illness Plus No Mental Illness
Selected Levels of Mental Illness: Any Mental Illness, Serious Mental Illness
Serious Psychological Distress (SPD) Status: SPD, No SPD
Major Depressive Episode (MDE) Status: MDE, No MDE
MDE and MDE with Severe Impairment Status: MDE Status Plus MDE with Severe Impairment
Types of Mental Health Services: Inpatient, Outpatient, Prescription Medication
Mental Health Service Status: Received Mental Health Services, Did Not Receive Mental Health Services
Mental Health Service (Including Virtual Services) Status: Received Mental Health Services (Including Virtual Services), Did Not Receive Mental Health Services (Including Virtual Services)
Locations of Outpatient Mental Health Services: Outpatient Mental Health Clinic or Center; Office of Private Therapist, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Social Worker, or Counselor – Not Part of a Clinic; Doctor’s Office – Not Part of a Clinic; Outpatient Medical Clinic; Partial Day Hospital or Day Treatment Program; School or University Setting/Clinic/Center; Some Other Place
Sources of Payment for Outpatient Mental Health Services: Self or Family Member Living in Household, Family Member Not Living in Household, Private Health Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Rehabilitation Program, Employer, VA or Other Military Program, Other Public Source, Other Private Source, Free Treatment
Mental Health Service Setting: Settings for Youth: Specialty, Outpatient, Inpatient or Residential; Nonspecialty, Education, General Medicine, Juvenile Justice, Child Welfare
Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior: Had Serious Thoughts of Suicide, Made Any Suicide Plans, Attempted Suicide
Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior Status: Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior Plus No Serious Thoughts of Suicide, Did Not Make Any Suicide Plans, Did Not Attempt Suicide
Treatment for Suicide Attempt: Received Medical Attention, Stayed Overnight or Longer in a Hospital
