This volume is comprised of papers presented at the Third International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology, held September 9-11, 1987, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The book is divided into four sections, which reflect the four themes of the conference: Social Impact of Pharmacoepidemiology; Drug Epidemiology and the Law; Drug Surveillance; and Drugs, Populations, and Outcomes: Specific Studies. The collection of papers discusses the social and legal impact of epidemiology, the system of checks and balances that is necessary for the field, the importance of core support for researchers, and the goal of an enlightened and informed public, including the media, consumer advocates, and the courts. Contributing authors offer perspectives from academia, practice, government, industry and the law. Numerous tables and figures are included to illustrate many of the papers within the text. This book offers substantial reading for epidemiologists and individuals interested in the field of pharmacoepidemiology.