Research

The NIAAA is the lead agency for U.S. research on the causes, consequences, prevention and treatment of alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related problems.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Appendix A. Differences Among Survey Data Sources

Appendix A. Differences Among Survey Data Sources
Item NHSDA/NSDUH MTF YRBS
Sample Characteristics
Survey population Civilian, noninstitutionalized population ages 12 and older, including residents of households and noninstitutional group quarters, and civilians living on military installations 8th, 10th, 12th graders enrolled in school 9th through 12th graders enrolled in school
Sample size (2019) 67,625 youth and adults
18,766 12- to 20-year-olds included in the public use file		 12th grade: 13,713/128 schools
10th grade: 14,595/126 schools
8th grade: 14,223/143 schools		 13,677/136 schools
Sampling procedure Independent, multistage area probability sample for each State and Washington, DC:
  1. Area segments/field interviewer regions (PPS)
  2. Addresses/area segments
  3. Persons/addresses
 Multistage area probability sampling:
  1. Geographic areas
  2. Schools/area (PPS)
  3. Students/school
 3-stage cluster sampling:
  1. Primary sampling units
  2. School/PSU (PPS)
  3. Classes/school
Year survey initiated 1971 1975 1991
Latest year available within report range 2019 2019 2019
Frequency of administration Annual (from 1991) Annual (from 1991 for all 3 grades) Every 2 years
Location of administration Home School School
Alcohol Items
Prevalence of Use

Past 30 days

 During the past 30 days, on how many days did you drink 1 or more drinks of an alcoholic beverage? On how many occasions (if any) have you had alcoholic beverages to drink—more than just a few sips—during the last 30 days? During the past 30 days, on how many days did you have at least 1 drink of alcohol?
Response: Open-ended (i.e., number of days)
  1. 0
  2. 1–2
  3. 3–5
  4. 6–9
  5. 10–19
  6. 20–39
  7. 40+
  1. 0
  2. 1 or 2
  3. 3 to 5
  4. 6 to 9
  5. 10 to 19
  6. 20 to 29
  7. All 30 days
Drinking Patterns

Age at first consumption

 How old were you the first time you had a drink of an alcoholic beverage?* When (if ever) did you first…try an alcoholic beverage— more than just a few sips? (non-core dataset) How old were you when you had your first drink of alcohol other than a few sips?
Response: Open-ended (i.e., age in years)
  1. Grade 4 or less (8th, 10th graders)
  2. Grade 5 (8th, 10th graders)
  3. Grade 6
  4. Grade 7
  5. Grade 8
  6. Grade 9
  7. Grade 10
  8. Grade 11 (12th graders only)
  9. Grade 12 (12th graders only)
  10. Never
  1. Never had a drink
  2. 8 or younger
  3. 9–10
  4. 11–12
  5. 13–14
  6. 15–16
  7. 17+

Frequency

 During the past 30 days, on how many days did you drink 1 or more drinks of an alcoholic beverage? On how many occasions (if any) have you had alcoholic beverages to drink—more than just a few sips—during the last 30 days? During the past 30 days, on how many days did you have at least 1 drink of alcohol?
Response: Open-ended (i.e., number of days)
  1. 0
  2. 1–2
  3. 3–5
  4. 6–9
  5. 10–19
  6. 20–39
  7. 40+
  1. 0
  2. 1 or 2
  3. 3 to 5
  4. 6 to 9
  5. 10 to 19
  6. 20 to 29
  7. All 30 days

Quantity

 On the [#] days that you drank during the past 30 days, how many drinks did you usually have each day? Count as a drink a can or bottle of beer; a wine cooler or a glass of wine, champagne, or sherry; a shot of liquor or a mixed drink or cocktail.    
Response: Open-ended (i.e., number of drinks)    

Volume

 [Computation of frequency   quantity]    

Binge Drinking

 Prior to 2015:

During the past 30 days, that is, since ___, on how many days did you have 5 or more drinks on the same occasion? By “occasion,” we mean at the same time or within a couple of hours of each other.

Beginning in 2015:

During the past 30 days, that is, since ___, on how many days did you have [4 or more]/[5 or more] drinks (for females/males, respectively) on the same occasion? By “occasion,” we mean at the same time or within a couple of hours of each other.

 Think back over the last 2 weeks. How many times have you had 5 or more drinks in a row? Prior to 2017:

During the past 30 days, on how many days did you have 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row, that is, within a couple of hours?

Beginning in 2017:

During the past 30 days, on how many days did you have 4 or more drinks of alcohol in a row (if you are female) or 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row (if you are male)?
Response: Open-ended (i.e., number of days recorded)
  1. None
  2. Once
  3. Twice
  4. 3–5 times
  5. 6–9 times
  6. 10+ times
  1. 0 days
  2. 1 day
  3. 2 days
  4. 3 to 5 days
  5. 6 to 9 days
  6. 10 to 19 days
  7. 20 or more days

Extreme Binge (High-Intensity) Drinking

  

During the last 2 weeks, how many times (if any) have you had 10 or more drinks in a row? [12th grade only?

During the last 2 weeks, how many times (if any) have you had 15 or more drinks in a row? [12th grade only]

 
Response:  
  1. None
  2. Once
  3. Twice
  4. 3–5 times
  5. 6–9 times
  6. 10+ times

 

Drunkenness

  

On how many occasions (if any) have you been drunk or very high from drinking alcoholic beverages during the last 30 days?

 
Response:  
  1. 0 occasions
  2. 1–2 occasions
  3. 3–5 occasions
  4. 6–9 occasions
  5. 10–19 occasions
  6. 20–39 occasions
  7. 40 or more occasions

 
Alcohol-Related Attitudes

Attitude toward others drinking

 How do you feel about someone your age having 1 or 2 drinks of an alcoholic beverage nearly every day? Do you disapprove of people…taking 1 or 2 drinks nearly every day?  
Response:
  1. Neither approve nor disapprove
  2. Somewhat disapprove
  3. Strongly disapprove
  1. Don’t disapprove
  2. Disapprove
  3. Strongly disapprove
  
    Do you disapprove of people… having 5 or more drinks once or twice each weekend?  
Response:  
  1. Don’t disapprove
  2. Disapprove
  3. Strongly disapprove
  

Perception of risk of drinking

   How much do you think people risk harming themselves (physically or in other ways), if they take 1 or 2 drinks nearly every day?  
Response:  
  1. No risk
  2. Slight risk
  3. Moderate risk
  4. Great risk
  5. Can’t say, drug unfamiliar
  
  How much do people risk harming themselves physically and in other ways when they have 5 or more drinks of an alcoholic beverage once or twice a week? How much do you think people risk harming themselves (physically or in other ways), if they have 5 or more drinks once or twice each weekend?  
Response:
  1. No risk
  2. Slight risk
  3. Moderate risk
  4. Great risk
  1. No risk
  2. Slight risk
  3. Moderate risk
  4. Great risk
  5. Can’t say, drug unfamiliar
  
Alcohol-Related Risk Behaviors

Drinking and driving

During the past 12 months, have you driven a vehicle while you were under the influence of alcohol/alcohol only? During the LAST 2 WEEKS, how many times have you driven a car, truck, or motorcycle after drinking alcohol? … having 5 or more drinks in a row? [12th graders] During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle when you had been drinking alcohol?
Response:
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Never used
  1. None
  2. Once
  3. Twice
  4. 3–5 times
  5. 6–9 times
  6. 10 or more times
  1. 0 times
  2. 1 time
  3. 2 or 3 times
  4. 4 or 5 times
  5. 6 or more times
    How many of these tickets or warnings [in the past 12 months] occurred after you were drinking alcoholic beverages? [12th graders]  
Response:  
  1. None
  2. One
  3. Two
  4. 3–4 or more
  
    How many of these accidents [in the past 12 months] occurred after you were drinking alcoholic beverages? [12th graders]  
Response:  
  1. None
  2. One
  3. Two
  4. 3–4 or more
  
    During the LAST 2 WEEKS, how many times (if any) have you been a passenger in a car . . . when the driver had been drinking alcoholic beverages? During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol?
Response:  
  1. None
  2. Once
  3. Twice
  4. 3 to 5 times
  5. 6 to 9 times
  6. 10 or more times
  1. 0 times
  2. 1 time
  3. 2 or 3 times
  4. 4 or 5 times
  5. 6 or more times

Drinking and sexual activity

     Did you drink alcohol or use drugs before you had sexual intercourse the last time?
Response:    
  1. Never had sexual intercourse
  2. Yes
  3. No

Drinking and dangerous activities

 During the past 12 months, did you regularly drink alcohol and then do something where being drunk might have put you in physical danger?    
Response:
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Never used
    

Drinking and getting into trouble

 During the past 12 months, did drinking alcohol cause you to do things that repeatedly got you in trouble with the law?    
Response:
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Never used
    

Drinking and problems with family/friends

 During the past 12 months, did you have any problems with family or friends that were probably caused by your drinking?    
Response:
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Never used
    

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