The following key lists selected demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic and health characteristic variables along with substance use and mental health variables used throughout the Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. This key also provides the specific categories displayed for each variable in the tables. Definitions for many of the measures listed in the key are available in Appendix A. The label assigned to each variable listed in the key maps directly to those used in the table of contents but may differ slightly from those used in the detailed tables. For example, in the detailed tables, age category variables are typically referred to as "age group" or "detailed age categories"; however, in this key and the table of contents, more detailed labels (e.g., adult age categories, youth age categories, college age categories) are provided for the various age breakdowns. This key can be used in conjunction with the Table of Contents and other tools described in the Reference Tools section to help navigate the detailed tables.
Standard Age Categories: 12 or Older, 12-17, 18 or Older, 18-25, 26 or Older
Adult Age Categories: 18 or Older, 18-25, 26 or Older, 26 to 49, 50 or Older
Youth Age Categories: 12-17, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17
Detailed Age Categories: 12 or Older, 12-20, 21 or Older, 12-17, 12-13, 14-15, 16 17, 16-25, 18 or Older, 18-25, 18-20, 21-25, 26 or Older, 26 49, 26-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50 or Older, 50 54, 55-59, 60-64, 65 or Older
Adult Detailed Age Categories: 18 or Older, 18-25, 18-20, 21-25, 26 or Older, 26-49, 26-29, 30 34, 35 39, 40-44, 45-49, 50 or Older, 50-54, 55-59, 60 64, 65 or Older
Substance Use Initiation Age Categories: 12 or Older, 12-25, 12-17, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18 or Older, 18-25, 18-20, 21-25, 26 or Older
Underage/Legal Drinking Age Categories: 12-20, 21 or Older
Underage Age Categories: 12-20, 12-14, 15-17, 18-20
Pregnancy Age Categories: 15-44, 15-17, 18-25, 26-44
College Age Categories: 18-22, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Driving Age Categories: 16 or Older, 16-25, 16-20, 21-25, 26 or Older
Probation/Parole Age Categories: 18 or Older, 18-49, 18-25, 26-34, 35-49
Gender: Male, Female
Gender/Youth Age Categories: Male 12-17, Female 12-17
Gender/Adult Age Categories: Male 18 or Older, Male 18-49, Female 18 or Older, Female 18-49
Hispanic Origin and Race: Not Hispanic or Latino; Not Hispanic or Latino, White; Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American; Not Hispanic or Latino, AIAN (American Indian or Alaska Native); Not Hispanic or Latino, NHOPI (Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander); Not Hispanic or Latino, Asian; Not Hispanic or Latino, Two or More Races; Hispanic or Latino
Gender/Race/Hispanic Origin: Male White, Not Hispanic; Female White, Not Hispanic; Male Black, Not Hispanic; Female Black, Not Hispanic; Male Hispanic; Female Hispanic
Education: Less Than High School, High School Graduate, Some College or Associate's Degree, College Graduate (Note: This variable is defined for adults aged 18 or older.)
College Enrollment Status: Full-Time College Students, Other Persons (including not enrolled in school, enrolled in college part time, enrolled in other grades full or part time, or enrolled with no other information available)
Current Employment: Full-Time, Part-Time, Unemployed, Other (including students, persons keeping house or caring for children full time, retired or disabled persons, or other persons not in the labor force) (Note: This variable is defined for adults aged 18 or older.)
Family Income: Less Than $20,000, $20,000-$49,999, $50,000-$74,999, $75,000 or More
Region: Northeast, Midwest, South, West
County Type: Large Metro; Small Metro; Nonmetro (including urbanized counties, less urbanized counties, or completely rural counties)
Poverty Level: Three categories for poverty level are defined relative to the poverty threshold: Less Than 100 Percent, 100 to 199 Percent, 200 Percent or More
Health Insurance: Private Health Insurance, Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Other (including Medicare, military-related health care, or any other type of health insurance), No Coverage
Overall Health: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair/Poor
Pregnancy Status: Pregnant, Not Pregnant
Trimester: First, Second, Third
Probation Status: On Probation, Not on Probation
Parole/Supervised Release Status: On Parole/Supervised Release, Not on Parole/Supervised Release
Illicit Drug Use/Misuse: Use of Illicit Drugs, Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Hallucinogens, LSD, PCP, Ecstasy, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Illicit Drugs Other Than Marijuana; Misuse of Psychotherapeutics, Pain Relievers, Stimulants, Tranquilizers or Sedatives, Tranquilizers, Sedatives, Benzodiazepines, Opioids
Selected Illicit Drug Use/Misuse: All Illicit Drug Use/Misuse Excluding Use of Heroin, LSD, PCP, Ecstasy; Misuse of Psychotherapeutics
Prescription Psychotherapeutics: Psychotherapeutics, Pain Relievers, Stimulants, Tranquilizers or Sedatives, Tranquilizers, Sedatives, Benzodiazepines
Tobacco Product Use: Use of Tobacco Products, Cigarettes, Smokeless Tobacco (i.e., Snuff, Dip, Chewing Tobacco, or "Snus"), Cigars, Pipe Tobacco; Daily Cigarette Use
Selected Tobacco Product Use: All Tobacco Product Use Excluding Use of Pipe Tobacco; Daily Cigarette Use
Alcohol Use: Use of Alcohol; Binge Alcohol Use, Heavy Alcohol Use
Perceptions of Risk Associated with Substance Use: Use of Cigarettes, Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, LSD, Alcohol
Perceived Availability of Substances: Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, LSD; Approached by Someone Selling Drugs
Drugs Used with Alcohol: Marijuana, Cocaine (including Crack), Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine
Substance Use Combinations: Illicit Drugs, Tobacco Products, or Alcohol; Illicit Drugs or Alcohol; Tobacco Products or Alcohol
Days Used Specific Substances: Past Year Use of Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Alcohol; Past Month Use of Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Cigarettes, Smokeless Tobacco, Cigars, Alcohol, Binge Alcohol; Past Month Misuse of Pain Relievers, Stimulants, Tranquilizers, Sedatives
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) for Specific Substances: Use of Illicit Drugs, Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Illicit Drugs Other Than Marijuana; Misuse of Psychotherapeutics, Pain Relievers, Stimulants, Tranquilizers or Sedatives, Tranquilizers, Sedatives, Benzodiazepines, Opioids; Use of Alcohol, Illicit Drugs and Alcohol, Illicit Drugs or Alcohol, Illicit Drugs Only, Alcohol Only
SUD Status for Specific Substances: All SUD for Specific Substances, No SUD
SUD Status for Selected Substances: No SUD, Illicit Drug Use Disorder, Marijuana Use Disorder, Opioid Use Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder, Both Illicit Drug and Alcohol Use Disorder, Illicit Drug or Alcohol Use Disorder
SUD Status: Illicit Drug Use Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder, SUD, No SUD
Substances for Last or Current Treatment: Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Pain Relievers, Tranquilizers, Stimulants, Sedatives, Alcohol
Substance Use Treatment at Specialty Facility Status: Received Treatment at Specialty Facility, Did Not Receive Treatment at Specialty Facility
Locations of Substance Use Treatment: Hospital - Inpatient, Rehabilitation Facility - Inpatient, Rehabilitation Facility - Outpatient, Mental Health Center - Outpatient, Emergency Room, Private Doctor's Office, Self-Help Group, Prison/Jail
Sources of Payment for Substance Use Treatment: Private Health Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Public Assistance Other Than Medicaid, Own Savings or Earnings, Family Members, Courts, Military-Related Health Care, Employer
Mental Illness: Any Mental Illness, Serious Mental Illness, Any Mental Illness Excluding Serious Mental Illness
Levels of Mental Illness: Mental Illness Plus No Mental Illness
Selected Levels of Mental Illness: Any Mental Illness, Serious Mental Illness
Serious Psychological Distress (SPD) Status: SPD, No SPD
MDE Status: MDE, No MDE
Types of Mental Health Services: Inpatient, Outpatient, Prescription Medication
Locations of Outpatient Mental Health Services: Outpatient Mental Health Clinic or Center; Office of Private Therapist, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Social Worker, or Counselor - Not Part of a Clinic; Doctor's Office - Not Part of a Clinic; Outpatient Medical Clinic; Partial Day Hospital or Day Treatment Program; School or University Setting/Clinic/Center; Some Other Place
Sources of Payment for Outpatient Mental Health Services: Self or Family Member Living in Household, Family Member Not Living in Household, Private Health Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Rehabilitation Program, Employer, VA or Other Military Program, Other Public Source, Other Private Source, Free Treatment
Mental Health Service Setting for Youths: Specialty, Outpatient, Inpatient or Residential; Nonspecialty, Education, General Medicine, Juvenile Justice, Child Welfare
Suicidal Behavior: Had Serious Thoughts of Suicide, Made Any Suicide Plans, Attempted Suicide
Treatment for Suicide Attempt: Received Medical Attention, Stayed Overnight or Longer in a Hospital
