MUSIC AND DRUGS

Re Patrick Goldstein’s “Rock World Raps Reagan’s Drug Stance” (Aug. 10):

The rock music industry can’t be blamed for all of society’s ills in terms of drugs, but neither can it be lauded for doing much about it. A few anti-drug songs does not excuse the industry for its complacency.

Attend one of many concerts advertised in the Calendar section if you don’t believe that we have a problem with widespread drug abuse. The industry that profits from these events must share in the credit for creating the social environment that permits, if not condones, open drug abuse. By peer pressure alone, how many are turned onto things they might otherwise have avoided?

The industry must also accept undivided responsibility for the frenetic road schedules through which it hurriedly extrudes its performers on the way to making a fast buck. You don’t need a music historian to link the industry’s road scene to longstanding drug abuse in its performers. That musicians are more frank about it these days is not refreshing but rather frightening. It might be easier to side with music industry officials assailed by Reagan if you could believe that they didn’t know what was going on.

It’s sad to see an industry with the power to do so much for Africa and our farmers hasn’t the resolve to take the lead in the battle against drug abuse. Instead, the industry seems content to bicker over who’s to blame.

RICHARD C. ROWE

Altadena