“DRUGS: Better Dead?” (1972) is a color, PSA film that warns against the effects of drug abuse. The undramatized documentary is composed of interviews with young addicts and ex-addicts offering accounts of what life is like on various drugs, how they get money, and their regrets. The interviews are intercut with footage of coroners undertaking the autopsy of a deceased young female addict. The film is quite graphic and features depictions of needle use, blood, and dead bodies. Produced by Graham Hurley, the film worked in consultation with hospitals around the United Kingdom including in Essex, Portsmouth, Liverpool, and Scotland and with technical advisers Dr. Ian Christie and John East.
Close-up young man with British accent talking to camera about recreational drug use starting with aspirin etc., flushed face, shaggy haircut (0:06). Text “DRUGS” overlaid drug user shooting up (0:27). Close-ups of other young men, couples sporting typical late 60s/ early 70s “hippie” haircuts recounting drug use (0:36). Aerial view of morgue technicians removing body from mortuary cabinet (1:59). Interviews continues: two young men in disheveled room, band posters on wall describe using speed other drugs (2:14). Footage of morgue technicians continue, wheeling around body covered in white cloth, weighing body on Avery Weighing Scale (3:11). Interviewee sitting on sofa with floral pattern recounts death of friend to barbiturates (3:41). Coroner speaks to camera in white plastic robe about necessity of autopsy on drug addict (4:43). Coroners in white robes, beige aprons prepare to perform autopsy in morgue (5:08). (5:08). Return to interview with first interviewee, recounts death of friend from cocaine overdose (5:27). The two young men in their disheveled bedroom, close-up of preparing syringe, discusses physical ailments as a result of drug abuse (6:12). Another interviewee describes feeling of “the chase” for drugs, in search of the next fix (7:20). The two young men in their disheveled bedroom, now high, crawl into bed – stained sheets, wallpaper (8:24). Interview with coroner continues, demonstration of organ removal during autopsy, nude cadaver – close-up removing urine from bladder (8:59). Poster of Jimi Hendrix adorns wall, couples lay about high in cramped room, man sits on side of bed preparing to shoot up in his calf, others in the arm (9:28). Interview continues with one of the original interviewees on floral couch, drugs role in disorienting values (11:37). Young woman in paisley print blouse, flushed skin discusses drug use and collapsed veins (12:18). Autopsy conducted at morgue, coroner recounts what he is seeing and assistant transcribes on board (12:31). Original interviewee discusses how much money he spent on drugs (13:07). Young woman in paisley blouse talks about how she would find money (13:39). Interviewee on floral couch talks about daily routine while abusing drugs (14:08). Three men in black suits carry wooden casket adorned with flowers out of morgue and place it into back of hearse (15:09). Young man with shaggy haircut, pinpoint pupils expresses fear over younger sister possibly being influenced into drug use (16:05). Interviewee on floral couch discusses how much money could be saved if he didn’t use drugs (16:50). Couple walks holding hands along desolate rural road, ranch rail fence lines road, overcast gray winter sky, barren tree (17:29). Couple walks along lake’s edge, trees reflected in water, fog settles on the water (18:12). Closing credits (18:16).
