This document provides an overview of health data and information available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It describes SAMHSA's behavioral health treatment locators, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive (SAMHDA) which hosts over 400 datasets, and new restricted-use data access tools including the Restricted-use Data Analysis System (R-DAS) and upcoming Data Portal. The goal is to make more SAMHSA data available and support researchers and innovators in developing solutions to issues like substance abuse and suicide prevention.

1. SAMHSA Health Data Information
Overview
Eugene D. Hayes, Ph.D.
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Healthdata.gov Data Lab
Washington, DC
June 3, 2013
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2. Behavioral Health Treatment
Services
Locator Data
Datasets
• Substance Abuse Treatment Locator
• Mental Health Treatment Locator
• Access at: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
– Service name, address, phone number & website
– Type of service provided (in or out patient)
– Payment/insurance options
• Repost to Healthdata.gov
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3. Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Data Archive (SAMHDA)
• SAMHSA contracts with University of Michigan
to host the SAMHDA website
• Access at: http://www.datafiles.samhsa.gov/
• Provides access to over 400+ behavioral
health data sets
• Download data and use analytic tools online
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4. SAMHDA Website
• Kinds of data:
– Substance abuse (e.g., alcohol, marijuana)
– Prevalence of mental illness
– Drug related emergency department visits
– Substance abuse treatment admissions,
discharges and facilities
• Nationally representative
• For public-use data:
– Free access
– No login required
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5. SAMHDA Website (con’t)
• Datasets on SAMHDA:
– Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)
– National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
– National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment
Services (N-SSATS)
– Treatment Episode Data Set – Admissions &
Discharges (TEDS-A & TEDS-D)
– National Mental Health Services Survey (NMHSS) -
planned
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6. SAMHDA Website (con’t)
• Available functions on website:
– Download data
– Analyze data online
– Quick Tables - build/retrieve premade tables
– Reports and publications
– Search variables (across data sets)
• Goal – get datasets on SAMHDA referenced on
Healthdata.gov
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7. New SAMHSA Data Access Sources
• Restricted-use Data Analysis System (R-DAS)
• Data Portal
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8. Restricted-use Data Analysis System (R-
DAS)
• SAMHSA developed an ‘online query system’ -
R-DAS
• Access at:
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/content/SAMHDA/rdas.html
• Publicly available (as of Oct. 9, 2012)
• User login required (free access)
• NSDUH restricted-use multi-year files
available (with State codes) for analysis
• Data protections are built into output
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9. Data Portal
• SAMHSA developing an ‘remote access
system’ - Data Portal (DP)
• Authorized researchers download software to
their computer to access restricted-use data
on a remote server
• The DP is planned for release by Jan. 2013
• Beta testing started and user feedback is
being received
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10. Data Portal Requirements
Researchers must -
• Submit application and research proposal
• Sign data use agreement (contract)
• Sign and notarize nondisclosure affidavit(s)
• Analyze data as limited to research proposal
• Allow onsite inspection of researcher facility
• Have research results and outputs undergo a
disclosure review before release outside DP
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11. Data Portal Features
• Install VMware software on approved
computer
• Receive user ID, password and keyfob for login
• Each researcher will have private folder for
their data and work output
• SAS, SPSS, Stata, SUDAAN and MS Office
software available
• Access to individual record level data for
research purposes
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12. Data Portal Features (con’t)
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• Researchers cannot:
– Download files
– Cut/copy and paste into the DP or out of the DP
– Print from within the DP
– Use the internet within the DP
– Access other researchers’ project workspace
– Use data or software that’s not in the DP
– Use unauthorized computer (only approved IP
address and no laptops)

13. Data Portal Project - Limitations
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• SAMHSA has very limited funds to open
accounts
• SAMHSA does not have legislative authority to
collect user fees
• May need help funding additional accounts
due to high demand

14. Applications of SAMHSA Data
• Use SAMHSA provider and community based
organizations data who serve individuals covered
by Medicaid based on disability.
• Can use SAMHSA provider and community based
organizations data who serve individuals covered
by Medicaid.
• Using SAMHSA suicide awareness data and
information, external innovators/entrepreneurs
will help to develop focused solutions to
problems in this area of need.
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15. Questions ?
Eugene D. Hayes, Ph.D.
SAMHSA HDI Lead
(240) 276-1459
eugene.hayes@samhsa.hhs.gov
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