Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH): Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States

This annual report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) addresses key indicators of substance use and mental health among adolescents and adults. Unlike earlier surveys, this one was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and utilized a different survey instrument. Notably, it employed web-based interviews and used criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), replacing the previous DSM-IV criteria.

How People Obtain the Prescription Pain Relievers They Misuse

This article highlights how people acquire prescription pain medication for nonmedical use and concludes that most are secured at no cost through friends, family, and medical providers. Such information is valuable for prevention efforts and allows for a better understanding of the ways and means individuals come in contact with potentially addictive substances. The article suggests that Americans not share prescription pain medication and dispose of any remaining medicine when the need for the prescription has passed as a way to minimize misuse.

Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) presents Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by SAMHSA, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The 2021 NSDUH used multimode data collection, in which 69,850 respondents aged 12 or older completed the survey in person or via the web. Estimates based on multimode data collection in 2021 are not comparable with estimates from 2020 or prior years. Therefore, this report presents NSDUH estimates from
2021 only.