Professor Martin Plant, who died on 16th March 2010 aged 63, was a major contributor to our understanding of drug, alcohol and related problems. In a 40-year research career, his prodigious output of dozens of books and hundreds of scientific papers covered epidemiological and behavioural aspects of drug and alcohol misuse, and HIV/AIDS. Many readers will be familiar with a number of his books, from the early ones such as Drugtakers in an English Town (1975), or Drinking Careers (1979) to his more recent Binge Britain: Alcohol & the National Response (with Moira Plant, 2006). The day before he died he submitted the final draft of Drug Nation, patterns, problems, panics
and policies (with Roy Robertson, Patrick Miller and Moira Plant) which is due to be published by the end of this year.