A national telephone survey of 1,104 adults who had recently obtained a new prescription was undertaken to determine the nature and amount of drug information obtained. Sixty percent stated that physicians provided directions for use information with the pharmacy reported as about half as active. Only 3 to 6 per cent said they asked the physician or pharmacist for information. However, one in six respondents said they looked up the prescription in a drug reference book such as the Physicians Desk Reference.