This report, based on a national interdisciplinary conference, provides a historical perspective as well as a review of recent research on the topic of public drunkenness. The materials look at the problem from the perspective of the community, health care providers, and the criminal justice field. Legal issues are discussed, especially the Uniform Alcoholism and Intoxication Treatment Act, and a full range of treatment alternatives are provided. The "Action Agenda" developed by conference participants is highlighted. The conflicting goals in decriminalizing public intoxication are discussed along with the status of decriminalization legislation in various states. The appendices contain a list of conference speakers and participants, information on the status of the Uniform Act in states that have not enacted it, a state-by-state list of uniform act implementation grants, addresses of public inebriate programs mentioned in the report, and descriptions of conference-sponsoring organizations. (JAC)