THE STUDY EXPLORES THE VALLE DEL SOL NARCOTICS PREVENTION PROGRAM AND EMPHASIZES 3 MAJOR VARIABLES INFLUENCING THE REHABILITATION OF THE CHICANO ADDICT: THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHICANO ADDICT, TYPICAL LIFE STYLE PATTERNS CONSIDERED IN THE REHABILITATION PROCESS, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE REHABILITATION PROCESS IS GEARED TO MEET THE CHICANO ADDICT'S NEEDS. CASE RECORDS OF 232 CHICANO ADDICTS WERE ANALYZED, AND INDEPTH INTERVIEWS USING PREDETERMINED QUESTIONNAIRES AND NONDIRECTIVE INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES WERE CONDUCTED WITH 22 OF THESE ADDICTS. DATA WERE ALSO OBTAINED FROM PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF TO DETERMINE PROGRAM POLICY AND SERVICES, INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS, AND ASSESSMENT OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE NETWORK. THE FINDINGS INDICATED THAT THE MAJORITY OF CHICANO ADDICTS HAD SEVERAL SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS. THE MAJORITY WERE MALES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 23 AND 27 WHO WERE MARRIED WITH CHILDREN; MOST WERE CATHOLIC AND MEXICAN AMERICAN; 42 PERCENT CAME FROM BARRIOS; MOST HAD RECEIVED 8 TO 11 YEARS OF EDUCATION AND RELIED ON ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES FOR INCOME; MOST USED HEROIN; AND MOST HAD BEEN ARRESTED 3 OR MORE TIMES AND WERE CONVICTED 1 TO 2 TIMES. TWO RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE: (1) ADDITIONAL RESEARCH SHOULD DETERMINE IF THERE ARE MORE MORE MALE THAN FEMALE ADDICTS, AND AN OUTREACH PROGRAM SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO ATTRACT THE FEMALE ADDICT, AND (2) REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CHICANO ADDICTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE LOCATED IN THE BARRIO. ADDITIONALLY, ADDICTS SHOULD RECEIVE ADEQUATE LEGAL AND EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING FROM THE AGENCY. TABULAR DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MJW)