ABSTRACT
The decision to focus the study on drug consumption in selected big cities has a long-standing tradition in Europe. Probably the best-known examples are the "Multi-City Studies" of the Pompidou group. Drug misuse in Europe as elsewhere has taken on different forms and been introduced at different times. Also the ways in which different societies have tried to cope with this problem vary according to tradition, ideology, control policies and experience. The choice of "case-studies" for the study of illicit drug consumption in Europe has a lot of advantages. Nevertheless, the city reports provide an important context within which to understand the consumption behaviour of both "marginalized" and "integrated" users and they also provided the basis for the selection of the "marginalized" and "socially integrated" drug consumers. The choice of "case-studies" for the study of illicit drug consumption in Europe has a lot of advantages.
