Senate Panel Calls for Rating on Drug Use in Movies

A Senate subcommittee, concluding that the movie industry is dragging its feet on concerns about the glamorization of drugs in films, today called for creation of a new movie rating subcategory called “SA,” for “substance abuse,” to alert parents that a film depicts the use of narcotics.

In a staff report to be made public this morning, the Governmental Affairs permanent investigations subcommittee said that while industry representatives appear concerned about charges that they are making drug use seem appealing to the young, they have done little to deal with the problem.

Inroduction Scheduled

The report, prepared by staff attorney Barbara Kammerman, is scheduled to be introduced as the subcommittee hears testimony on steps the movie industry might take to further the war against narcotics use. Industry officials, actors and parent groups will be among the witnesses.

Sen. William V. Roth Jr. (R-Del.), the subcommittee chairman, said in a statement accompanying the report that films “have a tremendous impact on our youth” in shaping life styles and attitudes.

Roth noted that many movie executives, actors and actresses have worked individually to support educational programs such as First Lady Nancy Reagan’s campaign against drug abuse. But he added that his panel intends to explore “what the entertainment industry itself is doing and what more it can do on a voluntary basis.”

“We are very sensitive to the First Amendment concerns here,” Roth said. “The last thing we want to do is to endorse censorship.”

Kammerman’s report said the subcommittee found, from extensive interviews with film writers, directors, producers, distributors and exhibitors, that “the industry as a whole has taken an interest in drug abuse.”

“Many are themselves parents and concerned that drug use not be glamorized,” she said. “All explained that while the (film production) companies have no formal policies, they consider drug use when deciding to purchase films and also during the filming.”

‘Other’ Category

But Kammerman’s report found that most officials who rate movies as G, PG, PG-13, R and X do not specifically judge films for “drug content,” as they do for sex, violence or adult language, even though some representatives said that drug-use depiction is considered by the industry’s Classification and Rating Board under a general category called “other.”

In suggesting that a subcategory of “SA” be created, the report said that many films depicting youthful drug use have been rated PG or PG-13, meaning that even though “parental guidance” is recommended, youths of any age may gain unescorted entry to a theater showing such a film.

Popular films of this type include “Desperately Seeking Susan,” starring singer Madonna, and Steven Spielberg’s thriller “Poltergeist,” the subcommittee said.

Kammerman’s report said that some members of the rating board explained that “while there is no specific rule on how to deal with drug use or abuse, there is an unwritten rule that any use of drugs automatically takes the film out of the G category.”

But the report adds that “none of the producers or distributors we interviewed recalled having been informed that a change in a drug scene would affect a change in the rating.”

‘Trial-Run’ Use

Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Assn. of America, told the subcommittee staff that a “trial-run” use of the SA rating has been under study by his organization since April, according to the report. But Kammerman found “disagreement among members (of the association) as to whether any such proposal is presently on the table.”

The subcommittee report said that parent and religious groups widely endorse an SA rating and that they want “to raise the consciousness of those in the industry so that they will not create glamorous images or otherwise endorse drug use.”