THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION HAS FOCUSED ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF DRUG USERS AND THE NEED FOR DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF DRUG USE, ONE OF WHICH IS CONFORMIST ADOLESCENT USE. DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED, MORE SUCCESSFUL DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT METHODS IS BEING PRESSURED FOR BY CONCERN OVER THE INCREASED USE OF DRUGS BY ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN MIDDLE CLASS AND WEALTHY COMMUNITIES. THE USE OF DRUGS BY CONFORMIST ADOLESCENTS IS MOTIVATED NOT BY PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS BUT BY THE PERCEPTION THAT IT IS FASHIONABLE AND PROVIDES INDEPENDENCE FROM ADULT SOCIETY, AND BY PEER GROUP PRESSURES TO CONFORM. EXPERIENCES WITH OLDER ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS TEND TO INDICATE THAT DRUG USE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE IMMATURE REBELLION BUT ONE FACET OF DISSENT. WHAT IS NEEDED IS A GREATER WILLINGNESS ON THE PART OF THE ADULT TO ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND RATHER THAN JUDGE THE ACTS OF YOUTH. DRUG USAGE SEEMS TO CONSTITUTE A PROBLEM THAT WILL NOT BE REDUCED BY CURRENT METHODS. AN OBJECTIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRUG USER AND SOCIETY IN TERMS OF THE EFFECTS OF USAGE ON BOTH IS NEEDED AS AN ANTECEDENT TO LEGISLATION. REACTIONS TO THE PRESENTATION ARE GIVEN. THIS SPEECH WAS PRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE ON YOUTH (MERIDEN, CONN., APRIL 26-27, 1966). (JH)