NMI behavioral health survey out

The Department of Public Health and the Department of Commerce released yesterday the Commonwealth Behavioral Health Survey following three months of rigorous work.

The survey report fulfills the intent of the memorandum of understanding between the two departments signed in December last year.

Composed of 56 total questionnaires, the survey captures the national outcome measure indicators for adult substance abuse and includes additional indicators related to mental health and the smoke-free law, Public Law 16-46.

According to DPH and Commerce, data obtained from the survey provide important baseline record for the various public health programs and will be analyzed further for additional information for program use and for grant management.

It is the purpose of the survey to collect cross-section data about the use and attitudes toward the use of alcohol, tobacco, and others drugs.

In a statement yesterday, DPH said that data from this survey is considered the first of its kind in the CNMI and will be used by the DPH Community Guidance Center and other health officials to produce national outcome measures for the CNMI in the areas of behavioral health.

Topics and instruments covered by the survey include use of tobacco, betel nut with tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, heroin, crack or cocaine, and methamphetamine, hallucinogens, inhalants, prescription drugs, and mental illness and stigma.

Saipan Tribune learned that the data collection was completed in a three-month period from April 23 through July 15. It used 1,626 households as respondents, comprising 4,208 individual persons with an average household size of 3.4 persons.

Of the 4,208 respondents, 2,729 were 18 years and older.

Based on the 210-page survey result released yesterday, majority of respondents did not show a great risk of dependency or substance abuse in the last 30 days they were asked on the date the survey was conducted.

Summary statistics of the survey report, however, indicated that many of the respondents are not fully aware of the smoke-free law of the Commonwealth but expressed support for its implementation.

DPH and Commerce said that in addition to meeting data gaps and providing baseline adult substance data, the survey also provides more documented assessment of the needs in the Commonwealth and foster data-driven priorities and decisions related to behavioral health evidence-based programs and practices.

The survey was conducted by DOC’s central statistics division and was prepared by Wil Maui, who served as survey consultant.