IT IS ARGUED THAT FEDERAL AND STATE RESPONSE TO THE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INADEQUATE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE MOST AFFECTED--MINORITY YOUTH. IT IS PROPOSED THAT DRUGS MUST BE CONSIDERED FROM A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE DRUG LAWS ARE SEEN AS REPRESSIVE TO MINORITY COMMUNITIES. IT IS STATED THAT MINORITIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN THE PRISON POPULATION FOR DRUG CHARGES, AND THAT THE PROPORTION OF MINORITIES IS EVEN GREATER FOR ARRESTS. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MEMBER OF ANY MINORITY GROUP IN A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP IN THE FIELD OF DRUG ABUSE CONTROL, AND THIS EXCLUSION OF MINORITIES HAS RESULTED IN LACK OF RESPONSE TO MINORITY NEEDS. SIMILARLY, STATEWIDE SERVICES, STATE DRUG ABUSE AUTHORITIES, AND MINORITY PROGRAMS COMPRISE A STRUCTURE THAT IS OVERWHELMINGLY WHITE, AND LACKING IN SENSITIVITY. IN RESPONSE TO THE CONTINUING CRITICAL NEEDS, THE NATIONAL COALITION OF ETHNIC DRUG ABUSE ASSOCIATIONS WAS ORGANIZED IN MAY 1977. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT SOCIALLY ORIENTED RESEARCH ON THE CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES BE UNDERTAKEN, AND THAT THE EXISTING BUDGET FOR DRUG RESEARCH BE REORGANIZED TO INCLUDE LESS EXPENDITURE FOR MEDICAL-TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH. ALSO PROPOSED IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MINORITY RESEARCH CENTER, RESTRUCTURING OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE, AND REANALYSIS OF EXISTING INFORMATION REGARDING TREATMENT OF ABUSERS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM A MINORITY PERSPECTIVE. REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)