Most of those interviewed were trial judges. Twenty-four courts of various sizes were represented: two appellate, 10 superior, 11 municipal, and 4 justice. Respondents reported that the impact of drug offenses on the courts was first noticed in 1983 and 1984; they now account for a majority of criminal proceedings in California trial courts. The greatest impact of drug cases and drug-related cases in the trial courts has been on the civil court calendar, as the priority of criminal cases has limited the number of courtrooms available for civil trials. The courts having the greatest problems tend to be those in counties where the district attorney has an inflexible policy against plea bargaining on drug offenses and other felonies. Trial courts are generally pessimistic about their ability to cope with the caseload if the problem continues for the foreseeable future. Appellate courts, however, are not overwhelmed by drug cases. The courts surveyed suggest that coordination is the best hope of mitigating the impact of the drug crisis on the courts. Extensive relevant court data are appended along with supplementary information.