The data from studies in Australia and the United States reveal that experimental drug use may be a feature of adolescence, but escalation to severe drug use problems is limited to a small proportion of adolescents. The group most at risk in Australian society are adolescents who are out of school and juvenile delinquents. Adolescents who are out of school have significant rates of drug use compared to those who are attending school. In addition, significant associations exist between youth considered street kids, unwise drug use, and unsafe sex practices. Involvement in crime, prostitution, and a culture of suicide attempts is also apparent among these youth. This involvement has important implications for public health campaigns and the targeting of scarce resources, particularly in a State that has focused on providing only the most basic of primary health care services. Tables, note, and 36 references