Drugs, Drinking, and Adolescence-Reply

Abstract

In Reply.—I appreciate and agree with Dr Ward's comment. Chemical dependency is indeed more than a disease of adolescence. Earlier letters pointed out how important it is that pediatricians consider parental chemical dependency as a cause of problems in their children. Now Dr Ward reminds us of the high prevalence of problems in colleagues and friends. Our success rate in treating the sick of the world will greatly benefit by more attention paid to the wounded among our ranks. A questionnaire completed by 476 attendees at an American Medical Student Conference suggests that the worst may be yet to come. The percentage of students who described themselves as current users were as follows: marijuana, 27.4%; cocaine, 10.8%; stimulants, 6.9%; and tranquilizers, 9.9%.J There is a natural human tendency to look for solutions to the society's ills in a global plan of action. Pleas aimed at changing the media,