SAMHSA Seeks Feedback on Youth Drug Survey Update
Published Date: 10/15/2026
Notice
Summary
SAMHSA is updating its survey that helps communities prevent alcohol and drug misuse, especially for young people aged 12-25. They want your feedback on how the survey works and how to make it easier to complete. This update keeps the survey fresh and useful without adding extra hassle or costs, so communities can keep fighting substance misuse effectively.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Survey scope broadened beyond underage drinking
SAMHSA replaced wording throughout the Organizer Survey from "underage drinking" to "alcohol and other drug misuse," expanding the survey focus to include alcohol and other drugs (e.g., marijuana, fentanyl, prescription opioids, methamphetamine, naloxone, and more). This change is reflected across many items and in the burden and informed consent language.
Three new questions added to Organizer Survey
Three new questions (q4, q10, q11) were added: q4 asks which substances/topics the activity will cover (including e-cigarettes/vaping, naloxone, fentanyl, prescription opioids, mental health, suicide, etc.); q10 asks which types of organizations respondents collaborated with (e.g., faith-based, law enforcement, schools, colleges, local businesses, government agencies); q11 asks the number of collaboration partners engaged per month.
Time burden: 500 organizers, 15 minutes each
On an annual basis, an estimated 500 Communities Talk activity organizers will complete the web-based Organizer Survey once each, with an average completion time of 15 minutes (0.25 hours) per response, totaling an estimated 125 annual burden hours.
Follow-up contact option removed to reduce burden
SAMHSA removed the survey option to be contacted for a follow-up assessment; the revision states this reduces burden on respondents.
Web-based collection with Section 508 accessibility
SAMHSA/CSAP will collect survey responses using a web-based application (such as Qualtrics) and states the application will comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to permit accessibility to people with disabilities.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-20651, Agency Information Collection Activities Comment Request
SAMHSA is updating its big yearly survey that collects info on places offering substance use and mental health treatment. This helps keep FindTreatment.gov accurate and useful for people looking for help. The changes aim to make data collection easier and better without adding extra work or costs, and they want your feedback by a certain deadline.
2026-20004, Current List of HHS-Certified Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities Which Meet Minimum Standards To Engage in Urine and Oral Fluid Drug Testing for Federal Agencies
The Department of Health and Human Services just updated the list of labs and testing centers approved to do urine and oral fluid drug tests for federal agencies. If a lab loses its certification, it’s dropped from the list until it’s fixed. This monthly update helps keep drug testing reliable and fair for all federal workers.
2026-19079, Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is planning the 2027 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which asks people 12 and older about drug use and health. They’re keeping the survey mostly the same but won’t include U.S. territories yet, and they’ll keep paying participants $30 for completing it. SAMHSA wants your feedback on how to make the survey better and easier for people to complete.
2026-17852, Current List of HHS-Certified Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities Which Meet Minimum Standards To Engage in Urine and Oral Fluid Drug Testing for Federal Agencies
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides notice of the laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities (IITFs) currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Mandatory Guidelines) using Urine and the laboratories currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines using Oral Fluid.
2026-16190, Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
2026-15637, Current List of HHS-Certified Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities Which Meet Minimum Standards To Engage in Urine and Oral Fluid Drug Testing for Federal Agencies
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides notice of the laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities (IITFs) currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Mandatory Guidelines) using Urine and the laboratories currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines using Oral Fluid.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-21055, Privacy Act of 1974; Systems of Records
The Department of Justice is setting up a new system to keep track of crime and justice data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. This system will help gather and share important info about crime, offenders, and victims to improve understanding and safety. The new rules take effect right away, but people have until November 16, 2026, to share their thoughts.
Next: 2026-21062, Privacy Act of 1974; Systems of Records
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is creating a new system to better track and manage complaints about immigration fraud and abuse. This change affects anyone involved in immigration cases and helps law enforcement handle these issues more efficiently. The new system starts now, with a 30-day comment period ending November 16, 2026, and no extra costs for the public.