THE PROJECT, WHICH HAS INTERVIEWERS IN MOST OF THE CITY'S CRIMINAL COURTS AS WELL AS IN SUPREME, FEDERAL AND NARCOTICS COURTS, INTERVIEWED 12,682 CLIENTS AND PLACED 5,971 IN TREATMENT IN THE 3-YEAR PERIOD FOLLOWING THE PROJECT'S ESTABLISHMENT IN 1971. DURING THAT PERIOD, THE PROJECT NOTED A DECLINE (FROM 80 TO 48 PERCENT) IN THE NUMBER OF HEROIN ADDICTS AMONG ITS CLIENTS AND AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS WHO, WHEN ARRESTED, WERE PARTICIPATING IN METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS. PROJECT STAFF HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY AWARE OF THE ROLE OF ALCOHOL AS A PRIMARY DRUG OF CHOICE FOR CLIENTS. FROM 1972 TO 1975, THERE WAS A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS REQUESTING METHADONE MAINTENANCE, WHILE THE LEVEL OF REQUESTS FOR TREATMENT IN DRUG-FREE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES REMAINED CONSTANT. IMPLICATION AND POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS OF THESE CHANGES IN THE PROJECT'S CLIENT POPULATION ARE DISCUSSED, AS IS THE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOL ABUSE AND CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)