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Drug abuse is abused in that current approaches largely fail to recognize drug abuse as a symptom of underlying disease. The concerns of medicine, religion, and the state have been to correct the symptom, rather than to attack its causes, as our rapidly changing technologic society progressively deprives us all of several needs basic to our well-being. One response has been drug abuse, often arising from the hunger for love, understanding, and a meaning to life in our increasingly dehumanizing culture. Essential ingredients in the development of identity are religion and ritualization; if healthy, normative sources are unavailable or unattractive, drugs may be chosen. "In this paper I should like to discuss some lesser-realized aspects of drug abuse in a special group of our youth, to stress some root causes of the problem." Medicine and religion must communicate with and educate our youth and ourselves, and become advocates of youth's plight and needs. Details are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shares the author's views on the role of religious dimension in pediatric care. Definition of religion; Importance of the religious side of man in the total care of man; Development of religious thinking in children; Characteristics of a healthy religion; Influence of healthy or unhealthy religious dimension on a child's total health; Role of religious beliefs and practices in determining the reactions of youth to a threatening situation.

Presents a letter to the editor commenting on the article "Pornography or Ignorance: Who'll Give the Kids a Third Choice?" by Mary S. Calderone.