However, in the past, concern about drug abuse has run in cycles, with peak levels of concern followed by disillusionment and indifference. Thus, national policymakers should not give the public unrealistic expectations and run the risk of having the public refocus its attention on other problems at the first hint of good news. Unfortunately, this is almost certain to occur if the drug problem is portrayed as a national problem with local implications. It is more realistic and accurate to view drugs as creating local problems that sometimes have national implications. A sensible long-term strategy is to focus on the harm that drugs cause and to try to alleviate this harm where it occurs. To do this will require close collaboration among many local agencies, including the police. The police should take a problem-oriented approach to drugs and collaborate with local government and neighborhood groups to deal with the problem. 31 references.