It questions the United Kingdom's overall organizational and administrative capacity for dealing with the emergence of the AIDS epidemic, and strongly suggests the need for centralization of planning and effort in the drug field. Policies should attempt at securing multiple small gains rather than master strokes. Awareness of international experience must be strengthened. A reexamination of the penal handling of drug misusers is required. Continued efforts should be directed at prevention of drug misuse in general, and at issues relating to the understanding of matters such as human sexuality or risk taking. Treating patients at an earlier stage and encouraging drug users to adopt safer and less harmful behavior deserves attention, and the importance of professional training and of research is emphasized. (Author abstract modified)