Trend dataset for representative surveys on the use of psychoactive substances and substance-related disorders among adults in Germany (Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse 1995-2021)

The Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) is a population-representative study that has been conducted regularly since 1980 to record the use of psychoactive substances and substance-related problems in the general population of Germany.
In each survey wave, sampling was based on German-speaking persons aged 18 to 59 (ESA 1995-2003) and 18 to 64 (ESA 2006-2021) from private households. Sampling was carried out in 1995 and 1997 with an age-proportional three-stage draw using the random route method. First, sample points were drawn before the survey households were determined with the help of a fixed random-route survey. In households with more than one person aged 18 to 59, the target person was defined based on a birthday question (´Who had his birthday last?´). From 2000, the survey was switched to a population sample using a two-stage selection procedure and, from 2003, the draw was disproportionately to the distribution of birth cohorts, with more persons of a younger age. In the first step, municipalities within Germany were randomly selected. In the second step, addresses were drawn from population registers using systematic random selection. The 1995-2003 surveys were conducted using written surveys (Paper and Pencil Interview: PAPI). In the 2006 survey, telephone interviews (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews: CATI) were additionally conducted, and from 2009 onward, the survey also included internet-based questionnaires (Computer Assisted Web Interviews: CAWI). To compensate for disproportionate selection probabilities and to align the data with the distribution of the population in Germany in the respective survey year, poststratification weights were determined for each survey.
Data collection was carried out respectively from January- June 1995, April-August 1997, May-October 2000, March-September 2003, March-September 2006, May-October 2009, April-July 2012, March-July 2015, March-June 2018, and May-September 2021. Data collection was carried out 1995-1997 by the field research institute GFM-GETAS and from 2000 by infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH . Response rates were 65% (1997 and 1995), 51% (2000), 55% (2003), 45% (2006), 50% (2009), 54% (2012), 52% (2015), 42% (2018), and 35% (2021).<br>The trend data set contains comparable questions that were asked 4 times or more. Questions were not always asked regarding the same time period. The time periods and substances asked included past 30-day, past 12-month, and lifetime prevalence of use of conventional tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes), alcohol, illegal drugs, and medications. Furthermore, the prevalence of the use of gambling machines was also asked.
For conventional tobacco products, alcohol, selected illegal drugs (cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamines), and medications (painkillers, sleeping pills, and sedatives), additional diagnostic criteria were recorded using the written version of the Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI) for the period of the last twelve months. Problematic patterns of use were also identified using screeners for use disorders for alcohol (AUDIT - Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test), tobacco (Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence), medications (KFM - Kurzfragebogen Medikamente), and cannabis (SDS - Severity of Dependence Scale).
A range of sociodemographic data and physical and mental health status were also recorded.