DAWN is a national probability survey of hospitals with emergency departments (EDs), which is conducted annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Analyses in this report focus on comparisons between 1997 estimates and estimates for the previous 2 years, as well as long-term trends in drug mentions between 1990 and 1997. Data from 1995 onward reflect improvements that were made recently in the estimation system. The report indicates that in 1997 there were 527,058 ED episodes and 943,937 drug mentions. Nationally, ED episodes and mentions remained relatively stable from 1995 through 1997. No statistically significant changes occurred in total drug-related ED episodes for any gender or race/ethnicity subgroup, nor by drug-use motive from 1995 to 1997. Total ED episodes for young adults (age 18 to 25) increased 6 percent (from 98,625 to 104,647) between 1996 and 1997, when episodes for this age group returned to 1995 levels. Between 1995 and 1997, 3 of the 21 metropolitan areas covered by DAWN - San Diego, Chicago, and Dallas - had significant increases in total drug-related ED episodes; and 5 metropolitan areas - Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Phoenix - had significant decreases. Information is provided on the involvement in the ED episodes of the following drugs: cocaine, heroin/morphine, marijuana/hashish, methamphetamine/speed, PCP/PCP combinations, and LSD. Data are also provided on nonmedical abuses of legal drugs that came to the attention of EDs. 56 tables