This authoritative overview of drugs and society today examines: whether a process of ‘normalization' of drugs and drug use is under way; the debate over prohibition versus legislation; ‘drugs' and ‘users' as ‘other' or ‘dangerous'; drugs and dance cultures; drug use among young women; images of ‘race' and drugs; medical responses to drugs; policing strategies and controlling drug users; drug control and sport; and the question of prohibition versus liberalization.