A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE PROBLEM OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE IS HOW MUCH PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO VICTIMLESS CRIME. WHEN PEOPLE ARE ARRESTED FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS, IT IS NOT GENERAL POLICE PRACTICE TO GIVE THEM BREATH OR BLOOD TESTS. THESE TESTS ARE GENERALLY ADMINISTERED TO DRIVERS SUSPECTED OF BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. SO-CALLED DERELICTS ENCOUNTERED BY THE POLICE SUFFER FROM MANY DISEASES IN ADDITION TO ALCOHOL. THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BRUTAL TREATMENT BY OTHER PEOPLE AND BY EACH OTHER. MEDICAL TREATMENT OF DRUNKS IN JAILS IS RARE. THE CLAIM THAT ARRESTS FOR DRUNK PERSONS ARE JUSTIFIED BY THE NEED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL TREATMENT IS CONTRADICTED BY THE TENDENCY OF THE POLICE NOT TO ARREST THE MOST SEVERELY DEBILITATED DERELICTS BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO PROCESS THEM THROUGH THE COURTS. PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS HAS BEEN A CRIME SINCE AT LEAST 1606 WHEN IT WAS PROHIBITED BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT IN ENGLAND. COURTS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE NOT ABOLISHED THE CRIME OF PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS, BUT EFFORTS ARE BEING UNDERTAKEN TO PROVIDE ALTERNATE METHODS OF DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL CITIES, INCLUDING ST. LOUIS, MO., AND NEW YORK CITY HAVE ESTABLISHED DETOXIFICATION CENTERS. A MAJOR PURPOSE OF DETOXIFICATION PROJECTS IS TO FREE THE POLICE TO HANDLE SERIOUS CRIME. THIS IS SELF-DEFEATING, HOWEVER, IF THE POLICE MUST TRANSPORT DERELICTS TO DETOXIFICATION CENTERS AND BE IN THE COURTS WAITING TO TESTIFY AGAINST THEM. PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN MADE IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES, SUCH AS FINLAND, FOR DEALING WITH ALCOHOLISM THROUGH CHANGES IN LAW GOVERNING THE ADVERTISING AND SALE OF LIQUOR. EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE. IN CONTRAST TO LAWS AGAINST DRUNKENNESS, MARIHUANA LAWS PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK IN WHICH THE POLICE GO TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS TO INVADE PRIVATE BEHAVIOR. PENALTIES FOR THE POSSESSION OF MARIHUANA, HOWEVER, ARE DECREASING, PARTICULARLY IN SUCH STATES AS OREGON, MAINE, COLORADO, OHIO, AND CALIFORNIA. HEALTH EFFECTS OF MARIHUANA AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LAWS AGAINST ITS USE ARE EXAMINED. (DEP)