SAMSHA published the 2020 NSDUH on October 25, 2021
This first findings report summarizes key findings from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) for national indicators of substance use and mental health among people aged 12 years old or older in the civilian, non-institutionalized population of the United States.
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the introduction of web-based interviewing. In addition, 2020 marked the first year in which SUDs were evaluated using criteria defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), as opposed to criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). There were additional changes to the questionnaire itself (e.g., new questions about vaping and the use of synthetic marijuana or synthetic stimulants, additional questions to measure SUDs based on the DSM-5 criteria, new questions in Quarter 4 to assess the impact of COVID-19 on people’s lives).
