|
|
| Hot
Topics: |
| Substance
Abuse in Video
Games |
| As
far as
drug-related
content in video
games is
concerned, one
of the worst
offenders is a
game called NARC. |
| >>>
video
of NARC
game |
| ..>>>
fact sheet of
NARC game |
|
When
first looking at
the image on the
cover a parent
or caretaker
might think that
the game is a
typical “cops
and robbers”
story. There
are cops in this
story, but
it’s not long
before they go
“bad,”
beginning to
take the drugs
that they have
seized from drug
dealers. As
the character
moves through
the game, the
player must
select drugs
such as
marijuana,
ecstasy, speed,
LSD or crack.
Depending on
which drug is
used, the
character’s
skills and
abilities may
improve.
The pace of the
game also
changes,
speeding up,
slowing down or
providing other
visual effects.
|
| ... |
|
| Available
on Play Station,
Nintendo and
Xbox this game
is available at
family-friendly
and gaming
stores. Since
details of the
game are not
listed on the
product’s
packaging,
parents or
caretakers may
believe it to be
harmless.
Unaware of its
true nature,
they may
purchase the
game and allow
their kids to
play without
ever knowing
what’s really
going on. But if
they examine the
instruction
sheet on the
inside of the
game, they would
most likely be
shocked to find
out what their
kids are being
trained to do.
To see for
yourself click
on the link
“Directions
for Selling and
Taking Drugs.”
You
will also want
to see the drugs
listed in the
game for player
selection, by
clicking on
“Drug List”. |
|
|
| Policy
solutions for
drug-related
video games |
| Video
games with
explicit sexual
content and
excessive
violence have
been the target
of lawmakers at
the national and
state level.
This past
October, a bill
banning the sale
of violent video
games to minors
was signed into
law. Taking
effect on
January 1, 2006,
AB1179 should
have required
the following: |
- Manufacturers
of the most
violent
games must
mark the
packaging
of
these games
with ADULT
ONLY on
them.
This
indicates
that
merchants
may not sell
these games
to customers
under age
18.
- Stores
that sell or
rent such
games to
those under
age 18 can
be fined
$1000.
|
| These
are good first
steps but
missing from
legislature is
any restriction on
video games that
have
drug-related
content. |
| . |
| The
game NARC is
rated M17+,
meaning that it
should not be
sold to youth
unaccompanied by
an adult unless
they are 17
years of age or
older.
However, recent
studies have
found that boys
as young as 7
years old could
buy mature-rated
video games as
much as 50% of
the time,
according to the
National
Institute on
Media and the
Family. |
| .. |
| Our
organization is
currently
forming a
collation to
raise public
awareness about
this alarming
trend and to
advocate for
policy-based
solutions.
If you
would like to
sign a petition,
help write
letters to
decision-makers,
and voice your
opinion you can
click on our
“Take Action
Now” link
below. For
more
information, you
can view our
goals and next
steps by
clicking on our
Statement of
Intent. |
|
|
|
|