The paper provides a detailed discussion of the impact of HIV among injecting drug users in Scotland. It shows that although HIV is a major public health concern within parts of Scotland, most notably in Edinburgh and Dundee, HIV infection remains low elsewhere in the country. Although concern about to HIV has receded as prevalence of infection has decreased, there has been growing concern over the marked increase in drug-related deaths among drug users in parts of Scotland. Much of the attention to drug misuse has focused on young people. They are ready subjects, with most studies being school-based, and drug misuse among young people may provide a clue to the expected future level of drug misuse. There has been particular concern about the apparent close association between certain forms of drug misuse and the dance culture, and the situation regarding volatile substance abuse. Within the policy sphere, greater attention is being given to drug prevention and the impact of drug use on community well-being. Tables, references