This paper (1) summarizes some of the recent research and evaluation of drug and other substance abuse programs, and (2) directs attention to the work of Federal agencies (NIDA and ADAMHA) concerned with drug and substance abuse, with special reference to the impact of this work on the alleviation of minority group drug abuse problems. Evidence is presented to support the contention that the bulk of research on drug abuse fails to consider those social and economic factors that require different and more complex solutions for minority drug abuse problems. Commonalities and differences between majority and minority group drug abusers are explored. The differential access to information for minorities, due to lower school attendance and greater social isolation, is offered as one example of how current prevention models (relying on the strategies of information, education, alternatives, and intervention) fail to address minority needs. Other problems discussed are the lack of pertinent data on minority drug abuse and the irrelevance of existing information for the social worker trying to deal with drug abuse at the street level. Also criticized is the over-reliance on continuing formal evaluations and esoteric research of existing programs. Finally, it is held that political and socioeconomic factors should be the primary foci for minority drug abuse prevention. (Author/GC)