As part of the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1982-84), prevalences of marijuana, cocaine, inhalant, and sedative use were examined among Hispanic Americans, aged 12-74. This report analyzes data on 3,394 Mexican-Americans in the Southwest, 1,286 Puerto Ricans in the New York City area, and 555 Cuban-Americans in the Miami area, aged 12-44. For each drug category, prevalence of use in each population group is tabulated by age group, sex, language of interview, educational attainment, marital status, country of birth, family income, and poverty status. Cross-cultural comparisons show that Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans were equally more likely than Cuban-Americans to have ever used any of the selected drugs or to be current users. However, inhalants and sedatives were not widely used by any group. The pattern of similarity between Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans was disrupted by prevalences for cocaine use; Puerto Ricans were more than twice as likely as other respondents to be current or lifetime users. Respondents with a high school education or more were more likely than others to have ever used marijuana, cocaine, or sedatives; this relationship did not always hold true for current use. Higher prevalences of both current and lifetime drug use were generally associated with being male, single, and U.S.-born; preferring to speak English; and having family income above the poverty level. Appendices present sociodemographic variables and marijuana prevalences for Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans, aged 45-74; the survey instrument; and a glossary. Contains many data tables. (SV)