Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Illicit Drugs: Data from the National Survey on Drug Use

and Health (NSDUH)

Joe Gfroerer

Director, Division of Population Surveys, OAS, SAMHSA

Presentation for NHTSA

March 22, 2006

2

Overview of NSDUH

• Conducted Since 1971; annually since 1990

• Prior to 2002, called the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse

• Representative nationally and (since 1999) in each State

• Civilian, noninstitutionalized population, age 12+

• 2002, 2003 and 2004 data comparable; not comparable with data prior to 2002

3

NSDUH Sample Design

Stage 1: 7,200 area segments

- 50% overlap in consecutive yrs

Stage 2: 180,000 addresses screened

Stage 3: 67,500 completed interviews

- 3,600 in each large state (8)

- 900 in each small state (43)

4

NSDUH Data Collection

Part self-administered, ACASI

$30 incentive payment (beginning 2002)

Household screener (5min.)

Select 0, 1, or 2 HH members

Face-to-face interview, CAI (1hr.)

Quarterly samples of dwelling units - 12 month field period

Oversample ages 12 - 25

5

NSDUH Questionnaire - Core

Tobacco, Alcohol, Illicit Drug Use

- Recency

- Frequency

- Initiation

Demographics

6

NSDUH Questionnaire -Supplemental Topics

Attitudes about drugs

Risk/protective factors

Treatment

Mental health

Workplace issues

Income, program participation

Dependence, abuse (DSM-IV)

7

DUI Questions from 2005 NSDUH

SP06a During the past 12 months, have you driven a vehicle while you were under the influence of a combination of alcohol and illegal drugs used together?

SP06b During the past 12 months, have you driven a vehicle while you were under the influence of alcohol?

ORDuring the past 12 months, have you driven a vehicle while you were under the influence of alcohol only?

SP06c During the past 12 months, have you driven a vehicle while you were under the influence of illegal drugs?

ORDuring the past 12 months, have you driven a vehicle while you were under the influence of illegal drugs only?

8

Other DUI-related Questions from 2005 NSDUH

RK04c How often do you wear a seatbelt when you drive a car?

SP03j In the past 12 months, were you arrested and booked for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs?

9

Comparing Different Surveys

Mode/setting differences:• School > Face to face > Telephone• Self Admin. > Interviewer Admin.

Design differences:• Coverage/Target Population• Response rate• Definitions, question wording, context

10

Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence of Illicit Drugs or Alcohol in the Past Year, by Age: 2004

Percent Driving Under the Influence in Past Year

1.43.0

9.2

16.7

20.2

25.0

33.030.4

25.5

19.3 19.7

15.4

12.2

8.55.7

2.4

26.228.5

18.0

28.1

32.4

0.50.20

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Age in Years

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 30-34 40-44 50-54 60-64

26-29 35-39 45-49 55-59 65 orOlder

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DUI by Type of Substance and Age:

2004Percent DUI in Past Year

10.2

20.2

28.2

16.8

6.29.2

14.512.6

20.9

0.7

3.86.9

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

16-17 18-20 21-25 26-34 35-49 50+

Alcohol Illicit Drug

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Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol or Illicit Drugs Among Persons Aged 18 or Older,

by Race/Ethnicity: 2003

Percent Driving Under the Influence in Past Year

15.3

11.4 11.18.4

17.618.3

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

AmericanIndian/AlaskaNative

Non-Hispanic

White

NativeHawaiianor OtherPacific

Islander

Hispanic Non-Hispanic

Black

Asian

13

Trends in DUI among Persons Aged 18 or Older: 2002-2004

Percent DUI in Past Year

4.8

16.4

4.7

15.714.6

4.5

15.615.4 14.7

02468

1012141618

Alcohol Illicit Drugs Either Alcohol or IllicitDrugs

2002 2003 2004

14

DUI Alcohol Among Persons Aged 18 or Older, by Gender: 2002-2004

Percent DUI In Past Year

10.6

20

9.9

19.6

10

20.7

0

5

10

15

20

25

Male Female

200220032004

b

15

DUI Illicit Drugs Among Persons Aged 18 or Older, by Gender: 2002-2004

Percent DUI In Past Year

3.1

6.9

2.8

6.5

2.7

6.6

0

2

4

6

8

Male Female

2002 2003 2004

b

16

DUI among Persons Aged 18 or Older, by Type of Substance

and Educational Attainment: 2004Percent Driving Under the Influence in Past Year

9.0

12.3

17.9

4.5 4.5 4.5

0.02.04.06.08.0

10.012.014.016.018.020.0

Less than High School High School Some College or CollegeGrad

Alcohol Illicit Drug

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DUI among Persons Aged 18 or Older Who Have Used Substances, by Type of Substance

and Educational Attainment: 2004Percent of Users Driving Under the Influence in Past Year

17.7 19.023.2

31.3 33.0 33.6

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

Less than High School High School Some College or CollegeGrad

Alcohol Illicit Drug

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DUI among Persons Aged 18 or Older, by Type of Substance and County Type: 2004

14.9 15.7

13.3

10.3

13.7

4.45.3 4.7

2.8 3.6

0.02.04.06.08.0

10.012.014.016.018.020.0

Large Small Urbanized LessUrbanized

Rural

Alcohol Illicit DrugPercent DUI in Past Year

Metropolitan AreasNonmetropolitan Areas

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Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol in the Past Year among Persons Aged 18 or Older: Percentages, Annual

Averages Based on 2002, 2003, and 2004 NSDUHs

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Driving Under the Influence of Illicit Drugs in the Past Year among Persons Aged 18 or Older: Percentages,

Annual Averages Based on 2002, 2003, and 2004 NSDUHs

21

Percentages of Drivers Aged 15 to 17 Reporting Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol in the Past Year, by GDL Rating: Annual Averages Based on

1999-2001 NHSDAs

9.110.2

11.5

9.5

8.0

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Overall MostRestrictive

ModeratelyRestrictive

LessRestrictive

LeastRestrictive

Percent Driving Under the Influence in Past Year

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Questions?