This multidisciplinary collection, which includes the views of sociologists, policy analysts, an epidemiologist, historian, anthropologist, feminist, community worker, and social psychiatrist, first considers the way the social problem of drug taking has been debated in the press and by political parties and identifies the issues raised on the basis of a review of the historical and international contexts and epidemiological evidence. Subsequent chapters describe one community's response to the problem, present a feminist critique of orthodox responses to substance use and treatment practices, argue for change in the prison system, criticize the use of the media for prevention campaigns and support closer links with teachers in schools, and report the response of one regional health authority, North Western Region. The final chapter reviews policy development in the decade of the 1980s and outlines the current agenda. 3 figures, 3 tables, and 302 references