The use of illicit drugs has been considered one of the most serious social and health problems facing Hispanics for the past two decades. Hispanics are expected to become the largest minority group in United States by the year 2000, and the failure to deal with the problem could prove detrimental to Hispanics and non-Hispanics alike. Recent findings seem to indicate that drug use and other deviant behavior by Hispanic youth may be associated with a loss of identification with their parents' culture of origin, and that those who are better-off financially tend to use illegal drugs more often than those who are not. An increase in the number of Hispanics admitted into drug treatment programs may be attributable to increased use of illegal drugs by Hispanics, increased sensitivity and awareness by drug treatment professionals and organizations, increased availability of partial third-party insurance coverage, and increased efforts by community-based agencies and public schools. The relationship between gang membership and drug use should be studied further. References (Author abstract modified)