Drug toll

The tragic death of John Belushi, attributed to an apparent overdose of cocaine and heroin, underscores only too vividly the harsh consequences of drug use. In such TV programs as ''Saturday Night Live,'' and films like ''Animal House,'' Mr. Belushi captured the hearts of many young people with his zany antics and often-ferocious appearance. His frequent sidekick, actor Dan Aykroyd, said that the comic needed an ''illicit thrill to make it all worthwhile.'' But what the drug culture suggests over and over is that the ''thrill'' carries a terrible price tag.