Research Guides: Substance Abuse: Websites

Abuse and Addiction

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Our mission is to advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
The mission of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is to generate and disseminate fundamental knowledge about the effects of alcohol on health and well-being, and apply that knowledge to improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related problems, including alcohol use disorder, across the lifespan.

National Center for Health Statistics
National Center for Health Statistics’ (NCHS) website is a rich source of information about America’s health. As the nation’s principal health statistics agency, we compile statistical information to guide actions and policies to improve the health of the population. We are a unique public resource for health information—a critical element of public health and health policy.
Trends and Statistics (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
NIDA uses multiple sources to monitor the prevalence and trends regarding drug use in the United States. The resources on this webpage cover a variety of drug-related issues, including information on drug use, emergency room data, prevention and treatment programs, and other research findings.
Fast Stat - Illicit Drug Use (CDC)
Fast Stat provides:
Selected statistics on a variety of health topics; the latest data in reports, databases, and other resources; and, additional data and tools.

You can evaluate any source using the 5 W's:

Who: ...wrote it? Are they an expert?
What: ...is the purpose of this resource?
Where: ...was this information published? ...does the information come from?
When: ...was this published or last updated?
Why: ...is this resource useful? ...is this resource better than other ones?

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Evaluating Information
by Angela Davis Last Updated Feb 26, 2024 918 views this year