ALTHOUGH COMPUTER SYSTEMS CAN GREATLY AID COST EFFECTIVENESS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION IN DRUG ABUSE PROGRAMS, STAFF RESISTANCE TO THEM OFTEN PREVENTS THEIR USE. IN ADDITION, SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE (THE SYSTEMS PACKAGE) ARE USUALLY TOO COMPLEX AND EXPENSIVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SOCIAL SERVICES. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND ITS USE ARE PRESENTED. EXPENSIVE DATA BASE OR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ARE USUALLY OPERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO SERVICE MANY DEPARTMENTS OR AGENCIES. HOWEVER, MOST DRUG ABUSE PROGRAMS LACK THE RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL TO DEVISE THEIR OWN SYSTEMS OR USE EXISTING SYSTEMS. ALTHOUGH CERTAIN HARDWARE MAY ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT SOFTWARE SYSTEMS, SOFTWARE-HARDWARE COMPATABILITY HAS SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS. ONCE COMPATABILITY IS DETERMINED, HOWEVER, THE USER MUST ALSO UNDERSTAND THE SOFTWARE'S CHARACTERISTICS FOR IT TO BE OF USE. DISADVANTAGES OF SOFTWARE USE BY DRUG ABUSE PROGRAMS INCLUDE LARGE SPACE REQUIREMENTS FOR STORAGE, DIFFICULTIES IN CHANGING THE SOFTWARE AS NEEDS ARISE, AND PURCHASE OR MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS. A SURVEY OF SOFTWARE USE IN DADE COUNTY, FLA., EXEMPLIFIES THE GAP BETWEEN POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL USE OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS, AND DESCRIBES A SOFTWARE PACKAGE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)