Pubdate: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2009 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n892/a01.html Author: Howard Josepher WHY THE YOUNG USE DRUGS To the Editor: Re "Young and Suburban, and Falling for Heroin" (news article, Sept. 27): To understand the tragic "new wave of heroin abuse" and overdoses on Long Island, we need to look at what creates the supply and demand for drugs. The supply side is a result of a sophisticated marketing scheme by someone with access to a substantial amount of heroin. Cheap, easily available, undiluted heroin will hook many, creating a market for the drug. To learn what creates the demand, we need to understand what drives the self-medicating behavior. In interviews with past and present youthful users, your article clearly points out their need to prove themselves and the underlying lack of self-esteem. These are symptoms of depression, a condition 25 million Americans are trying to cope with by taking legal substances. Getting tough on drugs or on drug users will not address the underlying condition that generates demand. Educating young people about their vulnerabilities could help many to avoid the pitfalls of addiction. Howard Josepher New York The writer is president and chief executive of Exponents, an organization that works to improve the quality of life of people affected by drug addiction. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake