Drug-use is a terminal disease.

Careful listening to current country and western and rock music with the help of an interpreter for coded phrases shows that young people are hearing a constant stream of messages about getting high, feeling good, going on trips, and using drugs of all kinds with all methods.

Our teenage "druggies" are habituated to drugs rather than addicted. While beer and other alcoholic beverages are preferred drugs, kids have simply not used alcohol long enough to become addicted. The other drug of preference - marijuana - is not addictive.

Adolescence in my growing up period was truly "Happy Days," the title of a TV show connotating the quality of this life period.

Second, the only proven technique for treatment for chemically dependent people involves use of a spiritual program of self-change.

A certain group of adolescents evidence clear "druggie" behavior and attributes some time before they actually begin drug use.

As the therapeutic relationship is established and progress occurs in problem areas, the therapist can "lead" and "push" the adolescent toward abstract reasoning skill.