This study was commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs. The goal of the study was to capture the experiences of communities of the drug problem since 1996 with a view to informing the development of a set of community indicators of a community drug problem. An innovative methodology of community participation in research was used, the lead researchers recruited local people as research assistants through community-based projects in the community of Ballymun. Health services and government initiatives are detailed here as are communtiy response to problem drug use, the impact of drug use in the area, significant social indicators in drug use and an overview of Ballymun from 1994-2004.