IN 1976, REPRESENTATIVES FROM 14 NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEM OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN ATTENDED A CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA). THE CONFEREES FORMULATED GUIDELINES FOR LOCAL POLICYMAKING, WHICH WERE TESTED IN 2-DAY CONFERENCES IN NEWNAN, GA., ASHEVILLE, N.C., AND WINDSOR, VT.--ALL SMALL COMMUNITIES WITHIN COUNTYWIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WITH OVERLAPPING POLICE AND COURT JURISDICTIONS, AND WITH DRUG PROBLEMS THAT, WHILE NOT OVERWHELMING, REQUIRED ATTENTION. THE HANDBOOK SETS FORTH THE GUIDELINES TESTED IN THE PILOT COMMUNITIES. THE GUIDELINES COVER THE NEED FOR SCHOOL POLICY ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE, THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION AMONG COMMUNITY GROUPS IN DEVELOPING SUCH POLICY, STEPS IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR INVOLVING SCHOOL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS. THE HANDBOOK ALSO DOCUMENTS IN DETAIL THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PILOT CONFERENCES, WHICH DEMONSTRATED THAT COMMUNITY-ORIENTED SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICYMAKING IS POSSIBLE. SUMMARIES OF THE PROPOSALS THAT RESULTED FROM EACH CONFERENCE DEAL WITH THE GOALS AND CONTENT OF DRUG EDUCATION EFFORTS; THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, COUNSELORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS IN COMBATING DRUG ABUSE; CONFIDENTIALITY IN COUNSELING STUDENTS WITH ABUSE PROBLEMS; AND THE HANDLING OF SITUATIONS IN WHICH DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE BY STUDENTS IS SUSPECTED BY SCHOOL PERSONNEL.