“Narcotics…The Inside Story…” (1967) is a color ANTI-drug PSA documentary short film produced by Charles Cahill and Associates in Hollywood, California. This educational film informs the viewer about the effects narcotics – both legal and illegal – have on the body’s central nervous system. The film features a combination of illustrated diagrams of the central nervous system as well as scenes of youth and medical professionals administering medication in hospitals.
Opening credits – title overlaid collaged images of various pills and pill casings (0:10). Group of teens play game of beach volleyball (0:25). Young man carries longboard surfboard over waves into ocean (0:33). Group of kids body surf and horse around in the waves (0:37). Return to beach volleyball game (0:55). Close-up boy adjusts perhaps Welco Vintage Olympic Swimming Goggles (1:09). Volleyball players roast marshmallows on the sand, others eat hamburgers, and prepare hotdogs (1:15). Diagram illustrating central nervous system’s response to touch (1:50). Young man drops hot hotdog in sand (2:06). Diagram illustrating the central nervous system’s response to smell, hearing, taste (2:17). Youth football practice: teenagers in full protective gear, tackle practice (2:28). Construction worker wearing helmet uses mechanized jackhammer (2:38). Iron welder connects iron beams (2:43). Air traffic controller wears protective headphones, wing and engines of perhaps United Caravelle 1960s aircraft (2:49). Man wears protective face mask with ventilation system while spray painting panel of small plane (2:51). Young boys hike on forested trail, backpacks filled with gear tower over their heads (2:55). Illustration of central nervous system (3:05). Nurse sorts through pill bottles in organized medicine cabinet (3:12). Pharmacist writes prescription on prescription pad (3:15). Toddler climbs step-stool in wall-papered bathroom, gets in reach of potentially dangerous substances (3:23). Colorful narcotic pills and pill cases spread on a table (3:39). Nurse draws novocaine into syringe (3:36). Illustration depicts how narcotics numb nervous system (4:06). Depressants: Nurse attendant gathers anti-depressant pills onto pill tray (4:20). Nurse and doctor stand at woman’s hospital bed and offer her water and pills (4:32). Stimulants: hands draw medicine into syringe (4:44). Pill bottles line shelves of cabinet (4:58). Illustration depicts how too much of these narcotics affects the body (5:21). Chemist looks through microscope in lab (5:45). Small bowl labeled ‘Marijuana:’ marijuana fills bowl (5:49). Chemist holds vile of LSD (6:11). Illustration of LSD’s effects on the mind – colorful graphics, abstract shapes (6:16). University of California San Francisco Parnassus Research Center and Academic Building (6:52). Lab of Dr. E Liang Wei at UCSF – white lab rats to convey affects of narcotics on human body (6:58). Sober vs. drugged rat try walking on a rotating rod (7:56). Camera shakes, inverted images, dramatic music at the lab to convey chaotic mind of an addict (8:32). Exterior of medical practice listing doctors names and the caduceus on the side (8:52). Doctor writes on prescription pad with black ball-point pen (9:02). Licensed pharmacist walks amongst the prescription bottles at the prescriptions pick-up window of a pharmacy, gives prescription of customer at counter (9:07). Police offer investigates briefcase found in trunk of car (9:22). Police officer pats down driver who leans on roof of car, officer finds weed and handcuffs man (9:25). Man lays down on bench in jail cell (9:38). Return to teenagers playing around at the beach, other footage of the barbecue and marshmallow roasting (9:49). Montage of clips previously shown throughout film (10:46). Teenagers bury one of their friends in the sand (11:15).
