A BRIEF HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM FROM 5000 B.C. THROUGH THE EARLY 1900'S, AND UP TO THE LATE 1960'S IS PRESENTED. THE ROLE OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN NARCOTICS TRAFFIC IS REVIEWED WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE MAFIA AND ITS ORGANIZATION AND METHODS. MANY ILLICIT DRUGS ARE PRODUCED IN CLANDESTINE LABORATORIES WHICH, DUE TO THE FINANCIAL ATTRACTION, ARE OFTEN RUN BY OR IN ASSOCIATION WITH RESPECTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS. CHEMICALS, APPARATUS, AND MATERIALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTION OF ILLICIT DRUGS ARE LISTED, AND INVESTIGATIVE TIPS ARE PROVIDED FOR UNCOVERING SUCH CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS. THE PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES, EFFECTS, APPEARANCE, MEDICAL USE/HISTORY, AND IDENTIFICATION ARE GIVEN FOR THE FOLLOWING: (1) NARCOTICS -- OPIUM, MORPHINE, HEROIN, AND CODEINE; (2) BARBITURATES AND SEDATIVES; (3) AMPHETAMINES AND OTHER STIMULANTS; (4) COCAINE AND MARIJUANA (CANNABIS); (5) MIND-ALTERING OR PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS -- LSD, DMT, DET, MESCALINE, PEYOTE, AND PSCILOCYBIN. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF NARCOTIC OR DRUG DEPENDENCE ARE EXAMINED. THE VALUE, MOTIVATIONS, AND USES OF INFORMANTS ARE REVIEWED, AND TECHNIQUES FOR DEVELOPING INFORMANTS ARE GIVEN. METHODS OF SURVEILLANCE AND UNDERCOVER DETECTION ARE PRESENTED. PROCEDURES FOR CHEMICAL ANALYSIS IN THE LABORATORY AND FIELD ARE DELINEATED FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF NARCOTICS AND DRUGS. SUPPLIERS OF REAGENTS AND COMMERCIAL TEST KITS ARE LISTED. THE U.S. SYSTEM OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, PERTINENT CASELAW REFERENCES, AND A GLOSSARY OF SLANG TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH NARCOTIC/DRUG ADDICTION AND USE ARE PROVIDED. EACH CHAPTER ALSO HAS A LISTING OF REFERENCES. (JAP)