[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 139 (Thursday, September 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                OPPOSE PRO-DRUG TELEVISION--BOYCOTT MTV

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                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 1994

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, it was recently brought to my attention by 
the International Drug Strategy Institute that MTV is once again 
broadcasting pro-drug messages. The MTV network recently broadcast 
``Straight Dope: A News Special on Drugs,'' which supported 
legalization and portrayed pro-drug advocates and users as drug 
experts. This pro-drug special was assisted by the Drug Policy 
Foundation; a well financed, pro-drug lobbying organization.
  Instead of responding to the concerns of drug experts regarding 
inaccurate and biased information. MTV repeated the hour-long show six 
times between August 23 and August 28. The promotion of these pro-drug 
messages by a network watched regularly by millions of young children 
and teenagers across this Nation is an outrage.
  In response to this programming the International Drug Strategy 
Institute has joined with Drug Watch International to encourage parents 
in the United States to ``Pull the Plug on MTV.'' Both of these groups 
are nonprofit organizations concerned with effective international 
policies and strategies which discourage drug use, oppose legalization 
of illicit drugs, and provide accurate scientific information on drug 
use. Parents are urged to contact their local cable television company 
and request that a ``block'' be placed on the MTV channel of their 
cable service.
  Furthermore, parents are also urged to contact the advertisers on MTV 
to oppose this type of programming. A number of major national 
advertisers did respond to the calls of concerned parents and drug 
experts by canceling their support of the broadcasts. According to Eric 
Voth, M.D., chairman of the International Drug Strategy Institute, 
``Because of its pro-drug messages, MTV has caused concern to parents 
in the past. But the network's inaction on this television special 
tells America MTV promotes drugs to children. Parents can tell the 
network that they don't want drug use glamorized to their kids in their 
own homes. They can ``Pull the Plug on MTV.''
  First as a father and grandfather and as a Member of Congress I 
commend the International Drug Strategy Institute for their concerted 
efforts to rid our Nation of illicit drug use and to protect our 
children from the horrors of drug addiction. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in boycotting MTV and opposing this misuse of television 
technology. I fear for a nation that delivers this type of message to 
its future generation of leaders.

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