Since the 1980s, a “community approach” has been accepted as being the way forward in effectively tackling drug and alcohol related problems. The involvement of local communities is considered essential to achieve effective change. This qualitative research explores the context and policy environment of community participation. It examines issues involved in moving from a micro medical model, to a macro intersectoral approach. The subject is studied using Ballymun Youth Action Project, one of the earliest community responses to drug abuse in Dublin, as a case study. The data was collected through: 1) documentary research of records, files, reports, etc.; 2) documentary research of official statements of government policy, publications and newspaper reports; 3) in-depth, taped interviews with staff members. The researcher was the first employee of the Project, with fifteen years of extensive relationships to draw on for the purposes of this qualitative study. Through inductive analysis, the story of this unique community response is told, with important dimensions emerging for analysis. Challenges to be faced in developing community participation are identified. The contribution of community development is explored. Two important conclusions are reached. One is that comprehensive intersectoral collaboration, with significant community participation, challenges traditional relationships. Effective training and education for all sectors needs to take place within a development strategy for this challenge to be met, and necessary changes to be made. The second is that work remains to be carried out to develop congruence among the theoretical concepts involved in community drugs work. The research concludes that Dublin offers a unique contribution to the further study of community participation. It makes recommendations for action research, which could contribute to the building of theory from practice, through the many ways that local people are involved in the drugs initiative.