Comparative evaluations of national survey data can improve future survey design and sampling strategies thereby enhancing our ability to detect important population level trends. This paper presents differences in past year estimates of alcohol, cigarette, marijuana, and non-medical painkiller use prevalence by age, sex, and race/ethnicity between the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC-III) administered in 2012–2013. In general, estimates were higher for the NSDUH survey, but patterns of substance use prevalence were similar across race/ethnicity, age, and sex. Results show most significant differences in estimates, across substances, age groups, and sex were greatest among Hispanics, followed by non-Hispanic Whites, and non-Hispanic Blacks. Members of other racial/ethnic groups (e.g., Asian-American, Native American/Alaskan Native) were underrepresented in the NSDUH survey. In many cases, estimates for these subpopulations could not be calculated using the NSDUH data limiting our ability to draw comparisons with the NESARC estimates. Methodological differences in data collection for the NSDUH and NESARC surveys may have contributed to these findings. To promote effective population health surveillance methods, more work is needed to derive reliable and valid estimates from demographic subpopulations to better improve policymaking and intervention programming for at-risk populations.

国家调查数据的比较评估可以改进未来的调查设计和抽样策略，从而提高我们发现重要人口水平趋势的能力。本文介绍了 2012 年全国药物使用与健康调查 (NSDUH) 与全国流行病学调查之间按年龄、性别和种族/民族划分的过去一年酒精、香烟、大麻和非医用止痛药使用流行率估计值的差异。 2012-2013 年实施的酒精和相关疾病 (NESARC-III)。总体而言，NSDUH 调查的估计值较高，但不同种族/民族、年龄和性别的物质使用流行模式相似。结果显示，西班牙裔美国人在物质、年龄组和性别方面的估计差异最大，其次是非西班牙裔白人和非西班牙裔黑人。其他种族/族裔群体（例如，亚裔美国人、美洲原住民/阿拉斯加原住民）的成员在 NSDUH 调查中的代表性不足。在许多情况下，无法使用 NSDUH 数据计算这些亚群的估计值，这限制了我们与 NESARC 估计值进行比较的能力。NSDUH 和 NESARC 调查的数据收集方法学差异可能促成了这些发现。为了促进有效的人口健康监测方法，需要做更多的工作来从人口亚群中得出可靠和有效的估计，以更好地改进针对高危人群的政策制定和干预计划。无法使用 NSDUH 数据计算这些亚群的估计值，这限制了我们与 NESARC 估计值进行比较的能力。NSDUH 和 NESARC 调查的数据收集方法学差异可能促成了这些发现。为了促进有效的人口健康监测方法，需要做更多的工作来从人口亚群中得出可靠和有效的估计，以更好地改进针对高危人群的政策制定和干预计划。无法使用 NSDUH 数据计算这些亚群的估计值，这限制了我们与 NESARC 估计值进行比较的能力。NSDUH 和 NESARC 调查的数据收集方法学差异可能促成了这些发现。为了促进有效的人口健康监测方法，需要做更多的工作来从人口亚群中得出可靠和有效的估计，以更好地改进针对高危人群的政策制定和干预计划。