Forum participants noted that national media coverage of the drug issue has slackened, even though problems resulting from drug abuse have escalated. The decline in media coverage was attributed to several factors: a significant drug-related event has not occurred to bring the drug issue to the front page and capture the public's imagination; drugs have lost standing as a political issue; the public is confused about the seriousness of the drug problem; and the economy has had a more direct impact on most people's lives than drug abuse. The principal concern expressed by forum participants about media coverage of drug issues was that the media, particularly the electronic media, tend to characterize the drug problem along racial lines. Forum participants concluded that drug abuse is a complex issue and that the media can play an influential role in covering the drug crisis and better informing the public. They also discussed strategies for improving media coverage of drugs. 3 endnotes