FINNISH LAW GIVES THE POLICE THE RIGHT TO TAKE AN INTOXICATED PERSON INTO CUSTODY FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME, EVEN THOUGH INTOXICATION IS A NONPUNISHABLE OFFENSE. DURING THE CUSTODY PERIOD, THE POLICE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE 'ADDICTS.' THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDED ADDICTS THROUGH POLICE PROCEDURES IN 1969. DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM THE POLICE DISTRICT OF HELSINKI AND COMPRISED ALL 859 ADDICTS ARRESTED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL DURING 1969. THE SAMPLE IS ABOUT 2 PERCENT OF ALL ADDICTS ARRESTED IN THE STUDY AREA FOR THAT YEAR. REASONS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THE HOSPITAL WERE EXTERNAL INJURIES (60 PERCENT) AND THE ADDICT'S COMPLAINT OF AN INJURY OR ILLNESS (17 PERCENT). OF ALL SUBJECTS, 44 WERE ADMITTED TO A HOSPITAL WARD; 2 DIED LATER ON THE WARD. ADDITIONALLY, 7 ADDICTS DIED AT THE POLICE STATION, WITHOUT BEING TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, THUS BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS AMONG THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ARRESTEES FOR 1969 TO 9. IT WAS FOUND THAT OMISSION OF OR DELAY IN THE TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL MAY HAVE BEEN OF DECISIVE INFLUENCE IN 4 OF THE DEATHS. HAD THE POLICE NOT TRANSPORTED ANY OF THE ADDICTS TO THE HOSPITAL, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 20. THE COST OF HOSPITAL TREATMENT AND TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL IS USED AS THE EVALUATION FACTOR FOR INPUT; IT AMOUNTED TO 23,200 U.S. DOLLARS. THE OUTPUT IS THE ESTIMATE OF NUMBER OF LIVES SAVED; I.E., 11 LIVES SAVED. THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PROCEDURE IS MEASURED AS THE SAVING OF ONE LIFE AT THE COST OF ABOUT 2,100 U.S. DOLLARS. THE SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ADDICT DID NOT HAVE A DECISIVE INFLUENCE ON THE DECISION WHETHER TO TRANSPORT HIM TO THE HOSPITAL. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE STUDY DOES NOT REVEAL ANY FACTORS WHICH WOULD ARGUE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MEDICAL DETOXIFICATION CENTER NETWORK OPERATED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA DERIVED FROM THE STUDY ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH REFERENCES. (RCB)