A Call for Action

On January 9, 1997, General Barry R. McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, accompanied by his team, addressed The Caucus in an effort to elicit help from us in the challenge to "beat back the problem of illegal drugs that threaten our nation and especially its children."

The General offered statistics from the National Survey on Drug Abuse report Cigarettes, Alcohol, Marijuana - Gateways to Illicit Drugs Use to the effect that whereas drug use has declined substantially among adults, drug use among 8th to 12th graders has increased every year for the past five years. Heroin use among adolescents has doubled during this period.

General McCaffrey was well aware that the entertainment industry, has often been targeted unfairly as the creator of a culture that sends inappropriate drug messages to our youth. "Culture is a joint product that the media reflect as well as invent."

He also acknowledged the special and unique importance to our particular group that free speech as guaranteed in the First Amendment be protected at all costs. However, he expressed the view that the news and entertainment industry owe it to our youth to portray realistically the dangerous consequences of illegal drug use. He stated that writers and producers of comedy series should think about the impact of "wink and nod" acceptance of illegal drugs that put teens at risk while praising programs like ER and NYPD Blue.

One of the frustrations that the General expressed is that both increased competition and the changes in viewer habits have resulted in less free air time available for public service announcements to combat drug use. Furthermore, pro-drug messages are communicated through the most sophisticated techniques while anti-drug forces typically fight back with one-dimensional approaches.

On April 25, 1997, subsequent to General McCaffrey's visit us, William L. Osteen, Sr., a federal district judge in North Carolina upheld the Food and Drug Administration's power to regulate nicotine as a drug and cigarettes as drug delivery devices.

What can the Caucus do to help?

One suggestion is for a committee to be formed to exhort the top star performers, producers, writers and directors of theatrical, feature, and television programs to produce more effective public service announcements by virtue of our access to them.

Another suggestion would be for the Caucus to present annual awards to the best motion picture and television programs of different, formats which portray realistically and effectively the dangerous consequences of illegal drug use.

In view of the court decision relevant to cigarettes, perhaps we are beholden to show fewer smokers among our "heroes" and potential role models, in much the same manner that the Caucus years ago helped reduce gratuitous alcoholic beverage consumption on television programs,

Co-chairman Herman Rush and I would welcome Caucus members, who would like to participate in our efforts, as well as constructive ideas from any of our members and readers in a matter of such importance which manifests itself in the safety of American citizens from drug related crime and violence and the health and social costs of illegal drug abuse by the public.