WHILE THE NUMBER OF ADMISSIONS HAS REMAINED RELATIVELY CONSTANT, DRUG-POSITIVE URINALYSES DECLINED SUBSTANTIALLY IN 1973 AND REMAINED AT A LOWER LEVEL THROUGH 1975. HEROIN USE SHOWED A DECLINE SIMILAR TO THE OVERALL TREND IN 1973, BUT BEGAN TO INCREASE IN MID-1974. GENERALLY, ARRESTEES WHO WERE DRUG POSITIVE WERE LESS LIKELY TO BE CHARGED WITH MAJOR CRIMES OF VIOLENCE THAN DRUG-NEGATIVE ARRESTEES. EXCEPTIONS TO THIS PATTERN AS WELL AS TRENDS IN DRUG USE AND CRIME IN THE ARRESTED POPULATION ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING STATISTICS ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR AND GRAPHIC FORM, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).