WHITE HOUSE TO TARGET HOLLYWOOD MOVIES FOR ANTI-DRUG MESSAGES

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- White House drug policy-makers provoked controversy
earlier this year by quietly trying to sprinkle anti-drug messages into
some of the nation's most popular televisions shows. Now they plan to
expand the campaign to Hollywood movies, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

Gen. Barry McCaffrey, director of the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy, is expected to disclose the new policy in congressional
testimony scheduled for today, the Los Angeles Times said.

Federal officials plan to "leverage popular movies" by working more closely
with major studios, writers and directors to promote films that
"responsibly communicate (anti-drug) campaign messages," according to a
plan McCaffrey is expected to disclose.

"As powerful as television is, some experts believe that movies have an
even stronger impact on young people," according to McCaffrey's planned
statement, a copy of which was obtained by The Times.

The proposal promises to reopen debate about the government's efforts to
get its anti-drug message out to young people.

In January, McCaffrey came under a storm of criticism when it was disclosed
that his office had been quietly giving major TV networks millions of
dollars worth of financial credits for including positive anti-drug
messages in popular shows such as "E.R.," "Beverly Hills, 90210," "Cosby,"
and others.

Government officials say the campaign has been a success. But critics say
it amounts to Orwellian-like censorship by the government, which uses
hidden financial incentives to get its message into standard programming fare.

The Times said officials on Capitol Hill and in Hollywood are wary of any
efforts to expand the campaign into the movie industry.