1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse Data Collection Report

1. INTRODUCTION

The 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) was the nineteenth in a series of general population surveys designed to provide annual nationwide data on substance abuse patterns and behaviors in the United States. With an expanded sample, the scope of the 1999 survey increased dramatically from past years to allow for the production of data estimates for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The survey was funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA chose Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to conduct data collection activities including sampling, counting and listing, screening, interviewing, and data processing. This report examines the preparations and procedures used in carrying out these data collection tasks and also presents the results of data collection.

As an overview, preparatory work on the 1999 NHSDA began in April of 1998. By the end of December, 1998, approximately 1075 interviewers had been hired to conduct the expected 90,000 interviews for 1999. Following an extensive and lengthy training program in January, 1999 on procedures—including new electronic screening and computerized interview tasks—data collection work began and was completed by December 30, 1999. The interviewing staff completed a total of 80,515 interviews. The majority, 66,706 interviews, were completed using computer-assisted interviewing (CAI) while an additional 13,809 interviews were completed using paper-and-pencil interviewing (PAPI).

Table 1.1 provides approximate time periods for the various tasks completed.

The remainder of this report addresses the following topics relating to data collection for the 1999 NHSDA: Sampling and Counting/Listing (C/L), Field Staff Recruiting, Preparation of Survey Materials, Field Staff Training, Data Collection, Data Collection Results (CAI/PAPI), and Quality Control.

Table 1.1
Schedule of Major Data Collection Activities

Activity	Approximate Time Frame
Recruit listing staff	April - June 1998
Create lists of Sample Dwelling Units (SDUs)	June - November 1998
Recruit Field Supervisors (Initial staff—replacement staff hired through the year as needed)	April - August 1998
Recruit Field Interviewers (Initial staff—replacement staff hired through the year as needed)	August - December 1998
Prepare computerized screening and interviewing programs	April - October 1998
Prepare manuals and materials for training	May - December 1998
Conduct interviewer training	January - November 1999
Conduct and manage screening/interviewing operations	January 13 - December 30, 1999

This page was last updated on June 03, 2008.

SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.