Prevalence of Substance Use Among Racial & Ethnic Subgroups in the U.S.

Variable

Levels

Definition

Age

12-17

18-25

26-34

35+

Calculated using date of interview and respondent’s reported date of birth.

Gender

Male

Female

As determined by NHSDA interviewer.

Region

Northeast

North Central

South

West

U.S. Census Bureau classification

Population Density

MSA >1million

Other MSA

Not in MSA

U.S. Bureau of the Census definition of Metropolitan Statistical Area based on 1990 population.

Interview

Spanish

English

Language used to administer NHSDA. Respondents were given a choice of Spanish or English.

Family Income

< $20,000

$20-40,000

> $40,000

Calculated by summing family members’ (respondent’s and adult proxies’) reports of total income received by all family members from seven sources: 1) jobs or self-employment, 2) Social Security or Railroad Retirement payments, 3) Supplemental Security Income, 4) public assistance or welfare, 5) interest, dividends, rents, royalties, trusts, 6) child support payments, and 7) all other sources.

Education

0-8 years

9-11 years

High school only

> High school

Respondents’ (aged 18 and older) reports of their number of years of school completed.

Employment

Employed

Unemployed

Not in labor force

Respondents aged 18 or older were asked to look at a card and tell which of several statements best described their present work situation. Employed includes those working full-time, part-time, and who have a job but are not at work because of extended illness, maternity leave, furlough, or strike. Unemployed includes those who are unemployed or laid off and looking for work. Not in labor force includes all other responses including student, full-time homemaker, retired, disabled, or something else.

Marital Status

Married

Widow/div/sep

Never married

Marital status at time of interview for respondents aged 18 or older.

Children

None

1 or more

Based on the number of biological, adopted, and stepchildren living in the respondent’s residence at the time of interview.

School Dropout

Yes

No

Respondents aged 12-17 were classified as school dropouts if they had not graduated from high school or received a GED, and were not enrolled in any kind of school.

Family Structure

Mother/Father

Other

"Mother/Father" households are those identified by the adolescent respondent as including both a biological/adoptive mother and a biological/adoptive father at the time of the interview. "Other" includes all other households including stepparent and one-parent families.

Health Insurance Coverage

Yes

No

Health insurance in the month preceding interview includes private health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, CHAMPUS, CHAMPVA, VA, or military health care.

Welfare Receipt

Yes

No

The respondent or another member of the respondent’s family received any kind of welfare in the month preceding the interview.

Number of People in Household

Mean

Number of people living in the respondent’s household (including respondent) at the time of interview.