[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12436-12437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04982]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

    In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed 
collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration (SAMHSA) will publish periodic summaries of 
proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects 
or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, contact the 
SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer at [email protected].
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collections of 
information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

Proposed Project: 2026-2029 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 
Methodological Field Tests (Office of Management and Budget No. 0930-
0290)--Extension

    The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is a survey of 
the U.S. civilian, non-institutionalized population aged 12 years old 
or older. The data are used to provide estimates of substance use and 
mental illness at the national, state, and substate levels. NSDUH data 
also help to identify the extent of substance use and mental illness 
among different subgroups, estimate trends over time, and determine the 
need for treatment services. The results are used by SAMHSA, the Office 
of National Drug Control Policy, federal government

[[Page 12437]]

agencies, and other organizations and researchers to establish policy, 
direct program activities, and better allocate resources.
    Methodological tests will continue to examine the feasibility, 
quality, and efficiency of new procedures or revisions to existing 
survey protocol. Specifically, the tests will measure the reliability 
and validity of certain questionnaire sections and items through 
multiple measurements on a set of respondents; assess new methods for 
gaining cooperation and participation of respondents with the goal of 
increasing response and decreasing potential bias in the survey 
estimates; and assess the impact of new sampling techniques and 
technologies on respondent behavior and reporting. Research will 
involve focus groups, cognitive testing, and field tests. Prior to each 
methodological test, a separate clearance memo (under this generic 
clearance) will be presented to Office of Management and Budget for 
review.
    These methodological tests will continue to examine ways to 
increase data quality, lower operating costs, and gain a better 
understanding of sources and effects of non-sampling error on NSDUH 
estimates. Particular attention will be given to minimizing the impact 
of design changes so survey data can be comparable over time. If 
findings suggest changes that might lead to improvements to the study, 
current procedures or data collection instruments may be revised.
    The number of respondents to be included in each field test will 
vary, depending on the nature of the subject being tested and the 
target population. However, the total estimated response burden is 
14,801 hours. The exact number of subjects and burden hours for each 
test are unknown at this time but will be clearly outlined in each 
individual submission. These estimated burden hours are distributed 
over 3 years as follows:

                           Estimated Total Burden for NSDUH Methodological Field Tests
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                                                                                  Average burden
            Activity                 Number of     Responses per   Total number    per response    Total burden
                                    respondents     respondent     of responses       (hrs.)          (hrs.)
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a. Focus Groups.................             378               1             378             2.0             756
b. Respondent screening for a...             473               1             473           0.083              39
c. Cognitive testing............             420               1             420             1.0             420
d. Respondent screening for c...             800               1             800           0.083              66
e. Field Tests..................          12,000               1          12,000             1.0          12,000
f. Household screening for e....          16,200               1          16,200           0.083           1,345
g. Screening Verification for e.             804               1             804           0.067              54
h. Interview Verification for e.           1,800               1           1,800           0.067             121
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    Total.......................          32,875  ..............          32,875  ..............          14,801
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    Send comments to SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 5600 Fisher 
Lane, Room 15E45, Rockville, MD 20852 OR email him a copy at 
[email protected]. Written comments should be received by May 
12, 2026.

Carlos Graham,
Social Science Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2026-04982 Filed 3-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P