A basic review of pharmacology of drugs used for sedation will be presented. A discussion of agents appropriate as enteral sedative agents will follow, leading into a review of agents used in parenteral moderate sedation techniques. Equally important, agents inappropriate for use in both enteral and parenteral moderate sedation will be outlined, with rationale discussed for each agent. Finally, emphasis this year will be on a thorough review of local anesthesia agents and techniques. Since profound local anesthesia is an absolute necessity for the success of minimal and moderate sedation techniques, this important discussion will highlight the day.