Some of the country's socio-demographic characteristics and a historical overview of alcohol/drug use and misuse are presented, as are data obtained through various research strategies, such as anthropological studies and epidemiological surveys among various populations. An overview of the current preventive interventions and some suggests for improving the conceptualization of alcohol/drug use and misuse for future research and preventive actions are included. The authors note that the prevention of alcohol/drug use and associated problems in Mexico poses a challenge for a number of reasons. The diversity in consumption patterns, the differing characteristics of the various user populations, the use of specific drugs by various groups, and the attitudes toward alcohol/drugs by different segments of society are among the main reasons. In such a large country, which has extreme and diverse social and economic characteristics, it is useless to attempt broad health preventive measures; there are specific prevention needs for each problem. Ethnographic and health perspectives toward alcohol/drug use must be more integrated. 3 tables, 3 figures, and 84 references