This report presents the analysis of a descriptive study of adolescents (n=590) at four Washington high schools who were assessed for substance abuse. Areas of concentration in evaluating referral processes are as follows: (1) general information regarding communication between school staff and Consultation Programs; process within the school to a substance abuse specialist; (3) the assessment process which occurs when students are "at risk"; (4) communication between the school and the treatment agency; (5) the re-entry of students to school and recovery support programs. The study concluded administrative support for prevention/intervention programs is of utmost importance. School counselors found school-based referral and treatment programs to be effective because of easy access to students and the comparative stability of the school in students lives. Checklists of student behavior patterns are the primary referral tool at each school. While the point of assessment varied among schools, the importance of having a stable referral and assessment process was emphasized. The majority of students in inpatient treatment returned to school, but continuous tracking records were not kept in any of the schools. (KM)