Are earlier years of data available for the TEDS-Discharges series?

The earliest year available for TEDS-D is the 2006 file. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has no plans for making earlier years of TEDS-D available at this time.

When will the next year of data be available for NSDUH?

The NSDUH public-use file (PUF) is typically released for the preceding year by the end of November or beginning of December.

The NSDUH Restricted-use Data Analysis (R-DAS) file is typically available one to two months following the release of the PUF.

Who is the sponsor for NSDUH?

The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ, formerly the Office of Applied Studies), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

How do I get the TEDS-A Concatenated file?

The TEDS-A concatenated data file is now available for download. This public-use file is provided in an ASCII rectangular format with SPSS and SAS data definition statements. A SPSS System and ASCII tab-delimited files are also available. Please note that because of the size of the data file normally available Stata files and the SAS Transport s file were unable to be produced.

If you are unable to download the file in one of the available formats, SAMHDA can provide you with the file. You can obtain the entire data set or select a subset of cases and/or variables. We can make the files available to you through a special Web link where you can access them directly. This is the quickest and easiest way for you to get the data you request. However, we can send you a CD of the files as well.

Please email us the following information at samhda-support@icpsr.umich.edu

1. Data File Delimiter (choose one of the following):

   None -- the preferred delimiter for analyzing the data using SAS, SPSS, or Stata.
   Blank -- one of two delimiters for using Excel, Access, or other similar software package.
   Comma -- another delimiter for using Excel, Access, or other similar software package.

2. Type of setup file(s) (choose one or more of the following):

   SAS
   SPSS
   Stata
   DDI (XML)
   SDA (DDL)

3. Cases: Please indicate whether you desire all cases or a subset of cases. One common example of a subset would be to request only those cases for a given state. You may also request more than one filter to define a subset (e.g., males in the 12-14 year old age group). Please refer to the TEDS codebook when considering filters. Please note that some variables, such as age, are categorized and therefore only allow for certain specific age ranges.

4. Variables: Please indicate whether you desire all variables or a subset of variables. If you request a subset of variables, please refer to the TEDS codebook when choosing variables for the subset. We prefer that you make your requests using Variable Groups (e.g., CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS, SUBSTANCES OF ABUSE: ORIGINAL VARIABLES, etc.).

As soon as we get this information from you, we will begin to process your request. We will email you instructions on how to retrieve the file from the Web site.

Who is the sponsor for TEDS?

The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ, formerly the Office of Applied Studies), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

When will the next year of data be available for MTF?

The MTF data files are released after the annual report is published, which is at the end of October in the year following the data collection. For example, the 2009 data files were released in October 2010.

Important note about using the RECODE or COMPUTE online analysis features for TEDS-A, Concatenated

This FAQ applies to data users who are creating new variables using the RECODE or COMPUTE functions in the SAMHDA online analysis system (SDA). Due to the large number of cases involved in the TEDS-A Concatenated data set, it may take up to 30 minutes for SDA to complete a RECODE or COMPUTE command. The system will use a new variable (created using RECODE or COMPUTE functions) in an analysis even before the variable is completely created; thus, users are requested to pay close attention to analytic results that use a newly created variable to make sure that enough time has elapsed and the new variable has been completely created. It is recommended that users wait for approximately 30 minutes before using newly created variable in analyses.

When running either RECODE or COMPUTE, you may encounter one of the following: (1) the screen turns blank and the status indicator in your browser says "Done" or (2) the server "times out." If these problems occur, SDA will still continue to process your request, although it may take 30 minutes or more to complete.

Is the longitudinal panel data available for Monitoring the Future?

The information below comes directly from Monitoring the Future. Please refer to their Web site for more information.

1. A subset of high school seniors are selected each year for follow-up, which is conducted in an alternating biennial fashion, with the first half of the subset receiving their first follow-up questionnaire one year after high school, and the second half receiving their follow-up two years after high school. They receive a series of six questionnaires within this arrangement, so the second half of the subset is 12 years past high school when they receive their last young adult "FU-12" questionnaire. Then, the follow-up procedure changes to 5-year intervals to cover middle adulthood.
   
2. The questionnaires in the young adult follow-ups are directly comparable to the base year questionnaires, both in content and in numbers of questionnaire forms. The core drug use questions are included along with the same types of related attitude and behavioral items, many of which are unique to each form, so respondents receive the same questionnaire form throughout the base year and young adult follow-up series.
   
3. All data for a particular individual are linked (or, in the case of form-specific items, capable of being linked) in the panel dataset. The sheer amount of information greatly increases the risk of breaching confidentiality. Thus, based on policies approved by our funding source and IRB, the panel data set cannot be made available to the public in totality and without modification.
   
4. Special data requests can be made through the Web site email address. Once we get a request, information about policies and procedures is sent out. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, and may be fulfilled - at requestor's cost - typically by providing data analytic access.
   

Additional information about the design of the panel component of the design and procedures used in the study are included in our annual NIDA report, Volume II, and in more detail in the MTF "Occasional Papers." See, for example, "The Aims and Objectives of the Monitoring the Future Study and Progress Toward Fulfilling Them as of 2006" (pdf).

To make a request for this data and for further information, please contact MTF staff at: MTFinfo@isr.umich.edu

Is state-level data available for NSDUH?

Public-use NSDUH files do not include state-level identifiers. The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) does not publicly release certain data, including state-level identifiers. Federal law requires SAMHSA to protect the confidentiality of individual respondents. For this reason, state codes are not placed on NSDUH public-use files. SAMHSA does release tables at the state and sub-state levels. A limited number of estimates are also available for the 20 largest metropolitan areas.

SAMHSA has made access to restricted-use NSDUH data available through the Restricted-use Data Analysis System (R-DAS). Through the R-DAS, researchers can now work with state-level variables to produce frequencies and crosstabulations using the restricted-use NSDUH data files. Learn more about the R-DAS.

Finally, the Data Portal provides researchers with off-site access to individual record level data, including state and substate variables. For access to confidential CBHSQ data through the Data Portal, researchers are required to submit a research proposal for approval and sign a contract (data use agreement). For approved projects, a researcher downloads software onto their computer that allows them to access servers where the confidential data reside. The researcher can then log into the server remotely and open a virtual desktop to access the confidential data using SAS, SPSS, or Stata.