The study defined "homeless adolescents" as "individuals 17 or younger who had spent the previous night in a formal shelter, in an improvised shelter, or on the streets." Ninety-three adolescents contacted through service and "street" sites for the homeless were interviewed using the Homeless Adolescent Interview Schedule. The schedule included sections on alcohol and other drug use, mental health, physical health, homelessness history, subsistence adaptation, family and social history, residential instability, criminal history, and victimization. The prevalence of alcohol abuse was exceedingly high among the sample compared to non-homeless samples of adolescents. Alcohol abuse, however, was only one among a host of problems that included disruptive family histories and unsatisfactory contact with social institutions. Solving only the alcohol-related problems of these adolescents will not end their homelessness. A broader perspective and a more integrated approach are required to guide policy relevant to this population. Specific recommendations are offered. 5 tables, 11 notes, 42 references.