The Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) records the use of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs and medications in the general population of Germany. The focus is on monitoring trends in substance use and its consequences. In addition, the Epidemiological Survey on Addiction focuses on current research questions and developments. Thus, the survey complements the federal health reporting as an important source of data. infas has been conducting the Epidemiological Survey on Addiction at regular intervals since 2001.