The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) series

measures the prevalence and correlates of drug use in the United

States. The surveys are designed to provide quarterly, as well as

annual, estimates. Information is provided on the use of illicit

drugs, alcohol, and tobacco among members of United States households

aged 12 and older. Questions include age at first use as well as

lifetime, annual, and past-month usage for the following drug classes:

marijuana, cocaine (and crack), hallucinogens, heroin, inhalants,

alcohol, tobacco, and nonmedical use of prescription drugs, including

psychotherapeutics. Respondents were also asked about personal and

family income sources and amounts, substance abuse treatment history,

illegal activities, problems resulting from the use of drugs, need for

treatment for drug or alcohol use, criminal record, and

needle-sharing. Questions on mental health and access to care, which

were introduced in the 1994-B questionnaire (see NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD

SURVEY ON DRUG ABUSE, 1994), were retained in this

administration of the survey. Also retained was the section on

risk/availability of drugs that was reintroduced in 1996, and sections

on driving behavior and personal behavior were added (see NATIONAL

HOUSEHOLD SURVEY ON DRUG ABUSE, 1996). The 1997

questionnaire (NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY ON DRUG ABUSE, 1997) introduced new items that the 1998 NHSDA continued on cigar

smoking, people who were present when respondents used marijuana or

cocaine for the first time (if applicable), reasons for using these

two drugs the first time, reasons for using these two drugs in the

past year, reasons for discontinuing use of these two drugs (for

lifetime but not past-year users), and reasons respondents never used

these two drugs. Both the 1997 and 1998 NHSDAs had a series of

questions that were asked only of respondents aged 12 to 17. These

items covered a variety of topics that may be associated with

substance use and related behaviors, such as exposure to substance

abuse prevention and education programs, gang involvement,

relationship with parents, and substance use by friends. Demographic

data include gender, race, age, ethnicity, marital status, educational

level, job status, income level, veteran status, and current household

composition.This study has 1 Data Set.