There are some social problems in the United States. And drug abuse has come to be 【21】___

___ as one of the most challenging social problems facing the nation. Indeed, the very word" drug" excites strong emotion, and opinion 【22】______ since the late 1960s have shown that "drug problem" is 【23】______ by most Americans as a major 【24】______ to the society, particularly to its younger members.

Drug abuse is a social problem because it has a wide range of social 【25】______ ,-- some obvious and measurable, some hidden and difficult to quantify. There is strong 【26】______ between some forms of drug use and crime. The use of alcohol, for example, is highly 【27】______ with violent crime. Heroin dependence, too, is related to crime, 【28】______ not so directly to violence. Heroin addicts (those who depend on heroin) may need as 【29】______ as $ 100 a day to support their habit, and most addicts find that they must 【30】______ in order to collect these sums. In 【31】______ , users of illegal drugs have to rely directly or indirectly 【32】______ criminal networks that manufacture, 【33】______ , and distribute these drugs. The profits from these illegal commerce are 【34】______ and the criminal organizations have be come deeply 【35】______ in the supply of heroin and other drugs.

Drug dependence does a lot of harm in 【36】______ . of personal health and safety. The 【37】______ user of drugs is much more likely than a member of general population to be killed or to 【38】______ suicide, either deliberately or accidentally. Drug dependence, too, may 【39】______ other areas of individual's life, 【40】______ from the home to the work place to personal relationships with friends.

【21】

A．regarded

B．respected

C．referred

D．treated