This research monograph is based on papers from a technical review meeting of the same name, held April 26-27, 1994. It provides information about the special nature or context of rural communities that might impact patterns of drug and alcohol consumption and delivery of prevention and treatment services; health, social, and economic consequences of substance abuse; and special needs of rural subpopulations. Many papers include a focus on youth. The selected papers are: "Introduction: Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Rural America" (Zili Sloboda, Eric Rosenquist, Jan Howard); "The Social Context of Substance Abuse: A Developmental Perspective" (Rand D. Conger); "The Special Nature of Rural America" (Rand D. Conger); "Drug and Alcohol Use among Youth in Rural Communities" (Ruth W. Edwards); "Traffic and Illegal Production of Drugs in Rural America" (Patrick J. O'Dea, Barbara Murphy, Cecilia Balzer); "Risk and Protective Factors for Drug Use among Rural American Youth" (E. R. Oetting, R. W. Edwards, K. Kelly, F. Beauvais); "Introduction: [Health, Social, and Economic Consequences]" (Gayle M. Boyd); "Health Consequences of Alcohol Use in Rural America" (Gene H. Brody, Eileen Neubaum, Gayle M. Boyd, Mary Dufour); "Health Consequences of Rural Illicit Drug Use: Questions without Answers" (Dennis G. Fisher, Henry H. Cagle, Dawn C. Davis, Andrea M. Fenaughty, Theresa Kuhrt-Hunstiger, Susan R. Fison); "Social and Economic Consequences of Rural Alcohol Use" (Kelly J. Kelleher, James M. Robbins); "The Economic and Social Costs of Drug Abuse among the Rural Population" (Joseph F. Donnermeyer); "Introduction: Interventions and Services" (Elizabeth B. Robertson); "The Prevention of Alcohol Use by Rural Youth" (Carol N. D'Onofrio); "A Drug Abuse Prevention Strategy for Rural America" (Anthony Biglan, Terry Duncan, A. Blair Irvine, Dennis Ary, Keith Smolkowski, Lisa James); "In Living Context: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Rethinking Rural Prevention" (Gordon Karim); "Introduction to Mental Health Service Delivery in Rural Areas" (Elizabeth B. Robertson); "Mental Health Service Delivery in Rural Areas: Organizational and Clinical Issues" (Morton O. Wagenfeld, J. Dennis Murray, Dennis F. Mohatt, Jeanne C. DeBruyn); "Introduction: Drug Abuse among Rural Ethnic and Migrant Populations" (Lula A. Beatty); "Alcohol and Drug Abuse by Migrant Farmworkers: Past Research and Future Priorities" (James M. Watson); "Culturally Competent Substance Abuse Prevention Research among Rural Native American Communities" (Jerry Stubben); "Substance Abuse in Rural African-American Populations" (Marvin P. Dawkins, Mary M. Williams); and "Drug and Alcohol Use among Rural Mexican-Americans" (Felipe G. Castro, Sara Gutierres). (Each paper contains references.) (SV)