To establish baseline data on Family Medicine Programme trainees' knowledge of and attitudes to drug and alcohol problems, we posted questionnaires to all trainees in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. A total of 1647 trainees was surveyed, with a response rate of 55 per cent (n = 908). The mean age of respondents was 29 years and 54 per cent were female. The majority of respondents (58 per cent) were in their final year of training. Overall knowledge levels were reasonably good (the mean score was 76 per cent), but there were significant areas of deficit. Senior trainees generally performed better than their junior counterparts. Knowledge was best for alcohol and weakest for opiates. Attitudes towards involvement with drug and alcohol problems were very positive; however, confidence in the efficacy of various interventions was mixed.