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This report presents operating characteristics of the NHIS 2016-2025 sample design. The general sampling structure is presented, along with a discussion of weighting and variance estimation techniques primarily for 2016-2018. This report is organized into four major sections. The first section presents a general overview of NHIS and its sample design. The second section describes the redesign process, updates for 2016-2025, and includes general frame and sample design considerations. The third section provides a more detailed description of the sample design and how the sample was selected. The last two sections present a description of the estimators used in NHIS for analyzing and summarizing survey results. Documentation for subsequent changes to the sampling and weighting procedures is available on the NCHS website as separate reports and through each year's survey description document. This report is intended for general users of NHIS data.

This report presents operating characteristics of the National Health Interview Survey 2016–2025 sample design.

Objective-This report presents prevalence estimates of prescription opioid use among U.S. adults with chronic pain.

Location-specific pain, such as back, neck, arm, and hip pain is associated with short- and long-term health effects, ranging from minor discomfort to musculoskeletal impairment (1), diminished quality of life (2), and escalating health care costs (3). Existing studies of location-specific pain are mostly limited to small or special populations with limited generalizability (4-6). This report provides national estimates of any pain regardless of body region as well as estimates of back, lower limb (hips, knees, or feet), and upper limb (hands, arms, or shoulders) pain in the past 3 months among U.S. adults aged 18 and over by selected sociodemographic characteristics.

This report presents prevalence estimates of prescription opioid use among U.S. adults with chronic pain.

Location-specific pain, such as back, neck, arm, and hip pain is associated with short- and long-term health effects, ranging from minor discomfort to musculoskeletal impairment (1), diminished quality of life (2), and escalating health care costs (3). Existing studies of location-specific pain are mostly limited to small or special populations with limited generalizability (4-6). This report provides national estimates of any pain regardless of body region as well as estimates of back, lower limb (hips, knees, or feet), and upper limb (hands, arms, or shoulders) pain in the past 3 months among U.S. adults aged 18 and over by selected sociodemographic characteristics.

Purpose To examine the prevalence and correlates of mental disorder comorbidity in the adult U.S. household population. Methods Data are from a nationally representative sample of noninstitutionalized, civilian adults aged 18 years or older (n = 5653) who participated in the 2008–2012 Mental Health Surveillance Study. Mental disorders, including substance use disorders, were assessed by clinical interviewers using a semistructured diagnostic instrument. Analyses examined co-occurrence of mental disorders and associations with sociodemographic, functional impairment, and treatment correlates. Results Approximately one-third of adults (31.1%, or more than 15 million) with a past-year mental disorder had a co-occurring mental disorder. Correlates of comorbidity in adjusted models included being of young age, being of non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, having low family income, and living in a large metropolitan area. Adults with comorbid mental disorders had lower mean levels of functioning and were more likely to report past-year treatment than adults with a single disorder; they also had higher estimates of past-year perceived unmet need for care (21.7% vs. 11.6%, P Conclusions About one in three adults with a mental disorder have a co-occurring mental disorder. Elucidating factors associated with co-occurrence may lend clues to shared etiologies, help improve prevention efforts, facilitate early identification, and improve treatment regimens.

The objective of this study is to estimate the comparative associations of mental disorders with three measures of functional impairment: the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF); the number of days in the past 12 months of total inability to work or carry out normal activities because of emotions, nerves, or mental health (i.e., days out of role); and a modified version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). Secondary data analysis of the linked Mental Health Surveillance Study and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (n = 5653), nationally representative population surveys conducted in the United States. Generalized linear models assessed the independent effects of mental disorders on each measure of functional impairment, controlling for mental disorder comorbidity, physical health disorders, and sociodemographic factors. The results varied across measures of functional impairment. However, mood disorders generally tended to be associated with the greatest functional impairment, anxiety disorders with intermediate impairment, and substance use disorders with the least impairment. All 15 disorders were significantly associated with the GAF score in multiple regression models, eight disorders were significantly associated with the WHODAS score, and three disorders were significantly associated with days out of role. Our results highlight the value of complementary measures of functional impairment.

Surveys suggest that between 4.3% and 11.5% of children living in the United States have a serious emotional disturbance (SED). SED is defined in the Federal Register, and federal block grants are allocated to states based on the prevalence of SED. Accurate measurement of SED is critical, yet surveys have used different methodologies and instrumentation to obtain prevalence estimates. Two expert panels were convened by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the fall of 2014 to discuss the current state of the field in operationalizing and measuring SED. The aims of this article are to (a) provide an update on SED prevalence rates from survey research, (b) summarize key discussion points that emerged during the SAMHSA expert panel meetings, and (c) make specific recommendations for next steps in measuring the prevalence of SED. Issues addressed in this article are important not only for federal allocation of service dollars to meet the needs of children with SED, but also for broader mental health surveillance efforts within the context of large national research surveys.

Purpose This brief research report presents findings from a US national household survey on the number and percentage of parents with mental illness. Methods Using combined annual data from the 2008–2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, parents were defined as having children in the household from birth to 18 years. Prediction models developed in an earlier clinical study using a National Survey on Drug Use and Health subsample were used to estimate serious mental illness (SMI). Results A total of 2.7 million parents (3.8%) had a SMI in the past year and 12.8 million parents (18.2%) had any mental illness in the past year. Mental illness was more common among mothers than fathers and least common among Asians compared with other races. SMI was less prevalent in parents who were aged 50 years and older compared with younger age groups. Conclusions The burden of mental illness in parents is high in the United States, especially among mothers. Physicians who treat parents should routinely screen for mental illness and discuss its implications for parenting.

This chapter lays the framework and establishes standard terminology used in the development of sample designs for substance abuse research studies. The main focus is probability-based population surveys, but the chapter also touches on non-probability sample studies that do not involve producing estimates that are representative of specific populations of inference. A general description of the process of determining the most appropriate sampling strategies is included at the beginning of the chapter, followed by more specific discussions of different types of studies. Unique problems in sampling for substance abuse studies are highlighted. Real-world examples of sample designs for substance abuse studies are described, with references giving more detailed information.

Young drivers have been identified as a group at high risk for fatigue-related accidents, particularly during the nighttime hours (Pack et al.). However, there is a probable relationship between nighttime fatigue-related accidents and the number of young drivers on the road during this same time period. This paper introduces a measure of exposure, the number of drivers on the road for a given hour, and evaluates its affect on fatal accident and fatigue-related fatal accident rates. Data from the National Household Travel Survey 2001 and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System are used. Overall, fatal accident and fatal fatigue-related accident rates are low but the increased risk of young drivers, particularly during the nighttime hours is highlighted.