THE ARTICLE REPORTS THE RESULTS OF A 1974 DRUG SURVEY IN TWO RURAL MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. DRUG USE IN THESE TOWNS WAS FOUND TO BE SIMILAR TO DRUG USE IN URBAN AREAS. IT APPEARS THAT TOWNS OF 2,500 TO 50,000 PERSONS HAVE BEEN ABSORBED INTO THE NATIONAL DRUG CULTURE, WHILE ONLY FARMERS AND PEOPLE LIVING IN VERY SMALL TOWNS STILL EXPERIENCE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF DRUG USE. OTHER FINDINGS INCLUDE ATTITUDES TOWARD AND NEEDS MET BY DRUG USE, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRUG USE AND AGE, SEX, AND GENERAL HEALTH. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)