In 1970, the author collaborated with colleagues in writing a working paper for a meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. The collaboration took place in London, England, at the Institute of Psychiatry. In October 1970, following the author's return to the United States, a White House staff member asked him to assemble a committee of experts to prepare a report on what to do about drug abuse in the United States. The Ad Hoc Committee recommended a Federal mechanism to coordinate existing efforts, the systematic collection of data, different approaches for different drug problems. An Ad Hoc Interagency committee of Federal agencies already involved in drug problems took a different view and emphasized the need for societal changes and additional research. However, the extensive use of heroin among military personnel in Vietnam precipitated major initiatives. On June 17, 1971, President Nixon announced the creation of the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse. Its early actions included planning and initiating the Drug Abuse Warning Network, the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, and expansion of treatment programs. The first National Strategy, produced in 1973, was titled the Federal Strategy for Drug Abuse and Drug Traffic Prevention. Several changes have occurred in drug abuse patterns and drug policies since the early days of the Special Action Office. 33 references