The project developed case studies of north Manhattan, south central Los Angeles and adjacent communities, and Oahu, Hawaii. Information was obtained from local researchers, criminal justice agency staff, treatment personnel, and others who had been in frequent contact with drug users and dealers when the smoking of base cocaine or crystal methamphetamine began to increase. Newspaper stories about these substances were also searched and reviewed. Epidemiologists and other researchers in State and Federal agencies supplied information on trends in cocaine and crystal methamphetamine use in the study sites. The information provided portraits of crack cocaine in north Manhattan, rock in south central Los Angeles, and ice on the island of Oahu. The one factor that clearly emerged from experiences at the three study sites is timing. Epidemics do not occur spontaneously; they are the result of many activities and influences. Identifying new drugs in an early stage may stop their spread, and ignoring symptoms may lead to uncontrolled growth. This article outlines seven stages in the spiraling stages of drug use, identifies sources of relevant information, and discusses cooperation at an early stage and the identification of early changes in drug use.