The alarming upward trend of urban drug use identified during the late 1960's and early 1970's is stabilizing, according to recent research. Early research reported low rates of drug use in nonmetropolitan areas. However, more recent research indicates that rural drug use is much higher than originally thought. This discrepancy results from the inability to effectively monitor drug use in high-risk groups over time. The examination of drug arrest statistics by means of time series techniques is one effective way of monitoring drug use trends. This analysis of urban drug arrests confirms that use is leveling off in such areas. However, no increase was found for the rural population over a 5-year period. It was found that rural-urban drug trends are quite similar. 3 tables, 1 figure, and 30 references. (Author abstract modified)