The current reversal of the rural to urban migration trend among Blacks, American Indians, and Hispanics will create a myriad of coping and adaptation problems for the urban to rural migrant and the rural nonmigrant as well. It is possible to gain a partial understanding of the likely problems by reviewing studies of the ethnic minorities' rural to urban migration and the coping patterns of rural and migrant communities. New migration patterns will undoubtedly affect mental health and substance abuse, two areas closely tied to coping and adaptation strategies. Studies of the incidence of mental illness among rural and migrant minorities have shown no consistent pattern of failure to adjust. Criticism of these studies focuses on their use of hospital statistics to determine incidences of mental illness and their failure to consider migrant characteristics and circumstances under which a move occurred. The type and extent of substance abuse varies among ethnic groups but is increasing for the rural and migrant ethnic minorities as it is for their urban counterparts. Although studies have identified stresses which affect substance abuse, they have not determined the impact of social mobility and environmental change on substance abuse. Among the many research needs is the need to identify the indigenous mechanisms used to control and prevent emotional problems and abuses of narcotics and alcohol. (JH)