Recent studies have demonstrated an alcohol/drug problem in rural areas of the United States and important differences between rural and urban drug users. This study examined the extent to which drug abuse is perceived as a problem in rural and urban secondary schools, whether school counselors are in need of more drug abuse prevention and intervention training, and differences between rural and urban secondary schools in drug abuse patterns and training needs. A survey assessing demographic information and drug abuse patterns and training needs was completed by 343 high school counselors in a midwestern state with a large rural population. Most respondents reported that drug abuse was a problem in their schools; 76% of counselors in small/rural schools and 96% of counselors in urban schools reported that drug abuse was a problem. Drug abuse was perceived as a greater problem in urban than in rural schools. There were no significant differences between rural and urban counselors in their perceived knowledge about drug abuse prevention; 34% of rural counselors and 40% of urban counselors agreed that they had adequate knowledge about drug abuse prevention techniques. There were significant differences between rural and urban counselors concerning knowledge of drug abuse intervention techniques, with 28% of rural counselors and 40% of urban counselors agreeing that they had adequate knowledge of drug abuse intervention techniques. (Twenty-seven references are listed.) (NB)