Prevention practitioners use current data and research to collaborate with communities, design programs, deliver services, and evaluate outcomes. Staying up to date with estimates of substance use and mental health indicators and strategies for addressing problems and concerns is critical in providing effective prevention services and achieving positive outcomes. This month’s PTTC Post will focus on the newly released data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and strategies for developing responsive prevention programs.
Current Experiences with Substance Use and Mental Illness
In January 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the results of its 2021 annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The 2021 NSDUH national report includes selected estimates by race, ethnicity, and age group and shows how people living in America describe their experience with substance use, mental health, and treatment. It is the most comprehensive report on substance use and mental health indicators that SAMHSA has released to date (SAMHSA, 2023.)
