During the 1980's, when the nature of the drug abuse problem fundamentally changed, knowledge on how to treat drug abuse advanced slowly. The lack of a strategic plan to direct drug abuse search and the lack of emphasis on training drug abuse researchers also slowed progress in understanding how to treat drug abuse. Current knowledge on the effectiveness of drug abuse treatment is limited by the lack of recent large-scale evaluations of treatment programs and methodological shortcomings of existing evaluations. Also, little is known about how to match patients with the most appropriate treatment, the effectiveness of specific components of treatment programs, and the treatment of individuals addicted to new drugs. Despite the recent cocaine and crack epidemic, NIDA's treatment research program has given priority to developing therapies for addiction to heroin and other opiates. Gaps in treatment knowledge have thus not been overcome because NIDA does not have a strategic research planning process and its treatment research priorities do not adequately address current needs. NIDA funding, however, has increased from $85,392,000 in fiscal year 1986 to $379,734,000 in 1990. Recommendations to develop a strategic plan for drug abuse treatment research are offered. Additional information on NIDA-funded research is provided in appendixes. 8 figures