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Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

SA-21 Data Details

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SA-21 Reduce the proportion of adolescents who use inhalants

About the Data

Description of the data source, numerator, denominator, survey questions, and other relevant details about the national estimate.

Data Source:

National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Changed Since the Healthy People 2020 Launch:

Yes

Measure:

percent

Baseline (Year):

2.7 (2015)

Target:

Not applicable

Target-Setting Method:

This measure is being tracked for informational purposes. If warranted, a target will be set during the decade.

Numerator:

Number of persons aged 12 to 17 years who reported using inhalants during the past year

Denominator:

Number of persons aged 12 to 17 years

Comparable Healthy People 2010 Objective:

Retained from HP2010 objective

Questions Used to Obtain the National Baseline Data:

From the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health:

[NUMERATOR:]

[The following question is asked separately for each inhalant: Amyl nitrite, "poppers,' locker room odorizers, or "rush'; Correction fluid, degreaser, or cleaning fluid; Gasoline or lighter fluid; Glue, shoe polish, or toluene; Halothane, ether, or other paint solvents; Lighter gases, such as butane or propane; Nitrous oxide "whippets'; Spray paints; or Other aerosol sprays]

Have you ever, even once, used [Amyl nitrite, "poppers,' locker room odorizers, or "rush']?

How long has it been since you last used [Amyl nitrite, "poppers,' locker room or hashish; odorizers, or "rush"]?

Within the past 30 days -- that is, since [DATE]
More than 30 days ago but within the past 12 months
More than 12 months ago

Data Collection Frequency:

Annual

Methodology Notes:

Use of inhalants within the past year was defined by an affirmative response to ever using any kind of inhalant "for kicks or to get high" combined with a response of " Within the past 30 days” and “More than 30 days ago but within the past 12 months.” Specific inhalants that have been identified as used "for kicks or to get high" are listed to help the respondent remember and to let the respondent know the kinds of substances of interest. In addition, probes are added for other substances. These two approaches tend to increase the probability that inhalant users will report their use.

In 2014 and 2015 changes were made to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) resulting in the need to revise the baselines and targets for 20 HP2020 objectives. In 2014, the changes to NSDUH primarily focused on revising the sample design, such as modifying the distribution of the sample across the 50 states and the District of Columbia and reducing the oversampling of youths and young adults. In 2015, SAMHSA implemented changes to the NSDUH data collection equipment, respondent materials, and survey questionnaire, including revisions to existing measures (e.g., prescription drugs, methamphetamine, hallucinogens, inhalants, and binge alcohol) and the addition of new questions (e.g., sexual orientation and attraction, disability status, and identification of active duty family members).

The 2014 changes to the sample design are expected to result in more precise national estimates overall as well as more precise estimates for older adults. The 2015 changes are expected to improve the quality of data, and the questionnaire revisions will address SAMHSA's substance use and mental health policy and research needs.

The following report outlines all of the changes that were made to the NSDUH in 2014 and 2015.

http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-RedesignChanges-2015.pdf.

A description of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) has been published by SAMHSA.

Trend Issues:

Estimates prior to data year 2015 were removed due to a questionnaire redesign of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) beginning in data year 2015, which resulted in a break in trend. Estimates were removed for both national level, and state-level data including the category ‘all reporting states’.

Revision History

Any change to the objective text, baseline, target, target-setting method or data source since the Healthy People 2020 launch.

Description of Changes Since the Healthy People 2020 Launch:

During regular data collection and processing checks, errors were identified in the NSDUH data. These errors affected the data for Pennsylvania (2006-2010) and Maryland (2008-2009). These errors had minimal impact on the national estimates and no effect on direct estimates for the other 48 states and the District of Columbia. Comparing estimates for Pennsylvania, Maryland, the mid-Atlantic division, and the Northeast region were of most concern. As a result in 2013, the original baseline was revised from 3.9 to 4.0 percent. If warranted, a target will be set during the decade. In 2015, SAMHSA implemented changes to the NSDUH data collection equipment, respondent materials, and survey questionnaire, including revisions to existing measures (e.g., prescription drugs, methamphetamine, hallucinogens, inhalants, and binge alcohol) and the addition of new questions (e.g., sexual orientation and attraction, disability status, and identification of active duty family members). The 2015 changes are expected to improve the quality of data, and the questionnaire revisions will address SAMHSA's substance use and mental health policy and research needs. As a result in 2019, the baseline was revised from 4.0 to 2.7 percent and since the baseline is still less than 5 percent, a target will not established.

References

Additional resources about the objective

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-36, HHS Publication No. SMA 09-4434. Rockville, MD. 2009.

View Data Details for all objectives in Substance Abuse