Addresses in the plenary session include a discussion of inhalant abuse as a forgotten drug abuse problem and the changes, challenges, and opportunities for the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 1996. Twelve symposia focus on the dynamics and effects of drug abuse in general and the abuse of specific drugs, as well as some treatment techniques. Some of the topics considered are the impact of drug abuse on the immune system; basic mechanisms, epidemiology, natural history, and clinical issues in marijuana use; motivational aspects of drug abuse; agonist efficacy, drug dependence, and medications development; and antibody and protein- based therapies for drug abuse. Twenty-two "oral communications" summarize various studies of drug effects and use, including laboratory and clinical studies of nicotine; the concordance between laboratory animal and human studies of the mechanisms of abused drugs; molecular biological studies related to opioids and stimulants; opioid tolerance and physical dependence; and women and substance abuse. Four "poster sessions" consider neurobiological issues in the use of opioids; HIV/AIDS issues in drug abuse; adolescent substance abuse; substance abuse and pregnancy; gender and age factors in substance abuse; and the history and current activities of the Drug Evaluation Committee. Annual reports for three ongoing studies of various controlled drugs are provided. Author and subject indexes