THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF DRUG ABUSE SERVICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR STATEWIDE COORDINATION AND CONTROL OF DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION. AGENCY RESEARCHERS CONDUCT TWO MAJOR SURVEYS: A STATEWIDE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AUDIT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE GENERAL POPULATION, AND A PERIODIC ASSESSMENT OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTH. THE FORMER USES HOUSEHOLD INTERVIEWS TO GAIN INFORMATION ON THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF DRUG ABUSE. A BROAD SPECTRUM OF DRUG INVOLVEMENT -- THE ADAPTIVE USER, THE RECREATIONAL USER, AND THE DYSFUNCTIONALLY ABUSING USER -- IS ENCOMPASSED IN THE SURVEY DESIGN. THE LATTER USES QUESTIONNAIRES TO ASSESS DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE, ATTITUDES, AND KNOWLEDGE IN A 2-PERCENT SAMPLE OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12 THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE RESEARCHERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS IN CARRYING OUT THEIR SURVEYS. IN HOUSEHOLD INTERVIEWS, RESPONDENTS ARE RELUCTANT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR DRUG-RELATED ACTIVITIES. THE RELUCTANCE STEMS FROM IRRATIONAL FEARS COMPOUNDED BY LEGITIMATE SUSPICIONS ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY. METHODS TO IMPROVE COMPLETION RATES INCLUDE OFFERING MONEY TO RESPONDENTS. IN THE SCHOOL SURVEYS, THE PROBLEM RELATES TO THE STUDENTS' VAGARIES OF MOOD AND ATTENTION AND TO A VARIETY OF MOTIVES AND FEARS ON THE PART OF TEACHERS. APPROACHES TAKEN BY RESEARCHERS IN DEALING WITH THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOTED. (LKM)