THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPED IN THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR PERSONNEL, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, INDICATES THAT MANY SOLDIERS USE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS AS A MEANS OF COPING WITH STRESS OR GAINING 'PLEASURE' IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS. THE EASY AVAILABILITY OF DRUGS IN VIETNAM CAUSED MANY CASUAL USERS TO BECOME DRUG DEPENDENT, AND MANY NONUSERS WERE SUBJECTED BY PEER PRESSURE TO BECOME AT LEAST CASUAL USERS. DATA REVEAL A DECREASE IN THE RATE OF HARD DRUG ABUSE SINCE THE VIETNAM ERA, WITH NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE USE OF ALCOHOL OR MARIJUANA. THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL BEING TREATED FOR ALCOHOL PROBLEMS HAS INCREASED, BUT THIS INCREASE IS SEEN AS A FUNCTION OF THE IMPROVED ACCEPTABILITY OF TREATMENT. THE PERIODIC FLUCTUATION OF HIGH GRADE HEROIN INTO CERTAIN AREAS, SUCH AS BERLIN, GERMANY, SHOWS THAT THE ARMY MUST HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DEAL WITH SUDDEN INCREASES IN DRUG ABUSE IN SPECIFIC AREAS. TRENDS INDICATE THAT MARIJUANA USE MIGHT REMAIN CONSTANT DESPITE INCREASED INVESTIGATIONS. MOST PERSONNEL BELIEVE THAT THE AMOUNT OF DRUG USE AMONG MILITARY PERSONNEL DOES HAVE SOME ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE COMBAT READINESS OF THE ARMY, BUT IT IS CONSIDERED DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP. PROGRAMS FOR CONTROL OF DRUG ABUSE AND TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS INCLUDE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE ARMY MEDICAL COMMANDS AND THE ARMY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION. ADDITIONAL MATERIAL CONCERNS THE DRUG EDUCATION PROGRAM AND URINALYSIS TESTING. TABULAR DATA ARE PRESENTED. (TWK)