This three-phase literature review focusses on the dangers of drug misuse or abuse by the elderly, and seeks to assist in the development of prevention and treatment strategies. The first phase focusses on the aging process and psychoactive drug use in clinical treatment. The second phase identifies and synthesizes information on the patterns of psychoactive drug use by the elderly. The final phase identifies operating programs established to prevent and/or treat the problems created by drug misuse or abuse by the elderly. Each section includes a reference list targeted to its focus. (Author/BMW)