THE ROCKEFELLER PROPOSAL INVOLVED CONVINCING THE PUBLIC THAT ADDICTS AND PUSHERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR A VAST AMOUNT OF CRIME, ADDICT DEALERS AND NONADDICT DEALERS WERE EQUALLY DANGEROUS AND HAD BEEN RECIPIENTS OF SOLICITOUS TREATMENT BY THE COURTS AND ALTHOUGH THE STATE HAD TRIED TO HELP 'SICK ADDICTS' MANY WERE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT TREATMENT. THE LANGUAGE OF THE PROPOSAL SUGGESTS AN EFFORT TO CREATE A CRISIS ATMOSPHERE CONDUCIVE TO THE ENACTMENT OF THE TOUGH NEW LAWS. THE PUBLIC REACTION TO THE PROPOSAL IS ANALYZED ACCORDING TO GROUPS CONNECTED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WITH TREATMENT OF ADDICTION, BLACKS, AND POLITICAL LIBERALS. THE CRITICISM MADE BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WERE THAT MANDATORY SENTENCES, WITHOUT THE POSSIBLITY OF PAROLE FOR PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF SELLING ANY QUANTITY OF DRUGS, WOULD MAKE A SHAMBLES OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES. ALSO JAILING PEOPLE FOR LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PROBATION WOULD CREATE AN INTOLERABLE PROBLEM FOR PRISON MANAGEMENT. BAR ASSOCIATIONS ATTACKED THE PROPOSAL ON THE LACK OF FAIRNESS INVOLVED IN EQUAL PUNISHMENT FOR LARGE DEALERS AND ADDICTED 'STREET SELLERS'. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT AMONG TREATMENT PERSONNEL THAT THE NONADDICT DEALER BELONGED IN PRISON, BUT THE ADDICT DEALER REQUIRED TREATMENT. PRACTITIONERS FROM EVERY TREATMENT MODALITY PRODUCED EVIDENCE TO PROVE THE EFFICACY OF TREATMENT. THE ROCKEFELLER PROPOSAL WAS REJECTED BECAUSE IT FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE POSSIBILITIES OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION. THE RESPONSE OF THE BLACK AND PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITIES REFLECTED THE DESPERATION ENGENDERED BY THE INCIDENCE OF DRUG ADDICTION IN THE GHETTOS. THE MAJORITY SUPPORTED A HARDLINE APPROACH TO DRUG SELLING, BUT SUPPORT MODERATED WHEN IT CAME TO THE CONCEPT OF LIFE SENTENCES PRECLUDING REHABILITATION. POLITICAL LIBERALS STRESSED THE SICKNESS OF ADDICTION, AND THE NECESSITY FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THE ADDICT, AND SAW THE RIGID BILL AS A THREAT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THESE GROUPS WHO OPPOSED MOST OF THE PROPOSALS OF THE ROCKEFELLER LEGISLATION, DID SO IN THE BELIEF THAT A MORE HUMANE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF ADDICTION COULD BE DEVELOPED. TABLES AND NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)