DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH &a HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service

Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and
Mental Health Administration
Office of the Administrator
Rockville MD 20857

NOTE TODR. KOOP

Subject:  Letter from The Heritage Education and Review
     Organization

Attached is background information you requested on the

game ~Thmgeons and Dragons." I hope this information

will be helpful, and if additional information is needed

please let me know.

Administrator

Attachment


  The following comments are addressed to the issues posed in the

letter of December 4 from Mrs. Penny Bowan to Dr. Koop. The questions

concern the potential hazards inherent in the currently popular game

UDungeons and Dragons. "

o   Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy game for children, primarily

   for pre-teens and teenagers.  The game requires at least two

  players.  One player is always the Dungeon Master. The

  Dungeon Master conducts the game, informing other players of

  their progress on a particular road to adventure and what

  threats, treasures, and/or choices are available to them.

  Players can choose to be one of a number of characters--for

  example, an Elf, a Magic User, a Cleric, a Humanoid, etc., and

  they have various characteristics, resources (money, weapons,

  powers), and points of vulnerability ("hit points"). Various

  monsters, demons, fiends, and other "bad guys" can appear in a

   game to thwart an adventure.  The general aim of the game is

   to make the right choices and find the treasure that is hidden

  away, or rescue those hidden away in dungeons by the powers of

   evil.  Played in its intended fashion, Dungeons and Dragons is

  not likely to place the participants at any psychological

   risk.


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o   It is generally agreed that the fantasies and role taking in-

  volved in children's play are among the richest experiences in

   early development.  They are a child's way of testing body and

   mind, of trying out roles, and learning about things, people,

   skills, and concepts.  Play is also a valuable vehicle for

   learning to express and modulate emotions like joy, frustration,

   anger and pride.  Children seek opportunities to act out their

   anger through stories, pictures, toys, clay--and games like

   Dungeons and Dragons.  Normal children, therefore, are not

   likely to experience psychological damage from the techniques

   involved in this or comparable games.

o   Certainly our tax money should not be used to promote this or

   any other game.  It is questionable, however, whether the

  government has a role in limiting the production of children's

  games or the normal and legitimate uses to which they are put.

Prepared by:  Julius Segal
          DSPI:NIMH
       December 29, 1981