This volume is the eighth in the Research Advances Series and the fifth published by Plenum Press. The purpose of the series is to review new work in rapidly changing fields. We do not expect reviews to cover the whole field of work on alcoholism and addiction. Nor do we expect that they will be like annual reviews covering all work in a delimited field. Our reviews are designed to explore only the most exciting parts of the total field and to focus on conclusions that can be made about them. The series publishes one volume each year. Volume 8 is an omnibus rather than a theme volume in that a wide range of topics is covered, including research on alcohol, opiates, and tobacco. As usual, the greater emphasis is on alcohol research, reflecting the importance of the problem and the volume of work to be reviewed. With Volume 8 come some changes in the Editorial Board. It will be the last volume in the series for Robert E. Popham who has resigned from the Board. He has been with the series since its inception and has contributed a great deal to its development. The members of the Board are grateful for his help. We are adding two new members: Dr. Howard Cappell, whose field is experimental psychology, and Dr. Edward M. Sellers, in clinical medicine and pharmacology.