THE CONTROVERSIAL AND PARADOXICAL DRUG ISSUE IS REVIEWED IN DETAIL FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. LEGAL AND SOCIAL PERCEPTIONS AND RESPONSES TO DRUG USE SHOW THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN DEFINING AND CLASSIFYING DRUGS ACCURATELY. THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONTROL OF DRUG USE IS DISCUSSED HISTORICALLY, BEGINNING WITH THE OPIUM DEBATE OF THE 19TH CENTURY AND THE ORIGINS OF INTERNATIONAL CONTROL. LEGISLATION AND DEVELOPMENTS FROM 1920 TO 1970 ARE OUTLINED, AND THE VALUES OF STATISTICS IN ASSESSING THE PREVALENCE OF ADDICTION ARE ENUMERATED, ALONG WITH THE MECHANICS OF CONTROL. A DISCUSSION OF THE APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL SANCTIONS TO OR MEDICAL TREATMENT OF DRUG USERS INCLUDES THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS, THE LEGITIMACY OF COMPULSORY MEASURES, AND SPECIFIC METHODS FOR DEALING WITH ADDICTS, SUCH AS PRISON OR TREATMENT CENTERS. THE SOCIAL RESPONSE TO DRUG USE INCLUDES MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONSIDERATIONS, ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS, POLITICAL INFLUENCES, AND THE PROBLEM OF DRUGS IN THE MILITARY. EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC ABOUT DRUG USE IS ALSO DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE PRESENT LAWS. CANNABIS IS DISCUSSED AS A SPECIAL ILLUSTRATION OF THE PARADOXES AND AMBIGUITIES THAT SURROUND DRUG ISSUES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE CURRENT LEGAL RESPONSE TO HARMFUL DRUG USE MAY BE RELATIVELY INEFFECTIVE BECAUSE DRUG USE CANNOT BE DIVORCED FROM THE TOTAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONTEXT IN WHICH IT OCCURS. LAWS AIMED AT CURBING DRUG TRAFFIC AND PENALIZING DEMONSTRABLY ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR ARE RECOMMENDED, AND ACTION BY AGENCIES SUCH AS TREATMENT CENTERS AND PROBATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO OR TREATMENT FOR DRUG USE IS ENCOURAGED. TABLES OF CASES, STATUTES, STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS, AND TREATIES ARE PROVIDED. FOOTNOTES, APPENDIXES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN INDEX ARE ALSO INCLUDED. (MHP)