Addressing Missing Data in Substance Use Research: A Review and Data Justice-based Approach

Missing data in substance use disorder (SUD) research can pose a challenge as researchers attempt to publish reliable findings based on the limited available information. Tools to address missing data exist, but are underused and may not address all types of missingness. Missing data are more than a statistical problem: for underserved populations and people with SUDs who may have missing data for a myriad of reasons, missing data represents missing stories and information that can have real-world impacts on system and policy-level decision making. This paper reviews types of missing data and, through a data justice lens, asserts the importance of the increased use and development of statistical tools to handle missing data in SUD research.