Although crack hit the streets in full force in 1985, surveys since 1984 show a substantial overall decline in drug use by juveniles. Because juvenile courts have joined the "war" on drugs by increasing the severity with which they handle drug cases, a progressively larger court caseload has strained juvenile court resources. In contrast to drug cases, not much has changed since 1984 in the processing of juvenile alcohol cases. Although alcohol use is considered by many to be a "gateway" to illicit drug use, the juvenile court typically handles drinking cases informally; juvenile drunk-driving cases are typically handled formally, however. In 1985 detention was ordered in slightly more than one-quarter of the drug cases. By 1988 the proportion of drug cases detained had increased more than one-third. Detention was far less likely in alcohol cases, and the proportion of alcohol cases detained declined from 1985 through 1988. Data show differences in the handling of white and nonwhite youth in drug and alcohol cases. Reasons for these differences are not revealed in the data. 8 figures and 5 tables