THE HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL IS GIVEN BEGINNING WITH THE SHANGHAI OPIUM COMMISSION OF 1909. THE THREE MAIN TREATIES IN THE FIELD OF DRUG CONTROL, AS OF 1977, ARE DESCRIBED. THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS OF THE UNITED NATIONS (U.N.) AND THE WORK OF THE U.N. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL AND THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD ARE SUMMARIZED. PROBLEMS DISCUSSED INCLUDE: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1971 CONVENTION ON PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES, ENCOURAGEMENT OF ADEQUATE DRUG CONTROL LEGISLATION IN COUNTRIES WHICH DO NOT HAVE COMPREHENSIVE DRUG LAWS, INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT ON PENALTIES FOR PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFIC, UNIFORM PENALTIES FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF POSSESSION OR USE OF AN ILLICIT DRUG, SHARING OF METHODS FOR IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF DRUG ABUSERS, AND COOPERATION IN DRUG EDUCATION EFFORTS. AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION IS ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE WORLDWIDE SHORTAGE OF CODEINE FOR MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC PUPOSES, THE RESULT OF INCREASED POPULATIONS AND AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PERSONS SEEKING HEALTH CARE. FUNDING BY THE UNITED NATIONS FUND FOR DRUG ABUSE CONTROL IS ESSENTIAL TO THE WORK OF THE VARIOUS COMMISSIONS. THE ROLE OF THIS FUNDING IS EXPLAINED. THE STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AS OF 1977 IS ALSO SUMMARIZED. AN APPENDIX LISTS COUNTRIES PARTICIPATING IN THE VARIOUS DRUG CONTROL CONVENTIONS. THE ARTICLE IS FOOTNOTED. (GLR)