This educational film from 1969 portrays the ‘Awareness House’ in Fort Bragg, California. The Awareness House is a teen center, started with the help of two former drug addicts, with the purpose of providing support and guidance to youths struggling with addiction. The film also includes statements from local counselors, the local high school principal, and Fort Bragg’s Chief of Police. It is produced by Charles Cahill & Associates, directed by Pat Shields, photographed by Andy Janczak, and funded by the U.S. Office of Education.

A shoreline (00:11). A group of young people from the Awareness House group sitting on the shoreline (00:22). The camera zooms in on one girl (00:27). Footage of the shoreline, houses, nature, and boats sailing (00:38). Altering scenes of Awareness House members speaking about their drug abuse, suburban areas, a woodworking factory, local schools, and urban areas (01:02). “Drug Abuse… One Town’s Answer” title banner (02:34). Altering scenes from the city of Fort Bragg, its residential areas, and the young members of the Awareness House group (02:54). Zoomed-in shots of the faces of the group members listening to other members’ stories (03:29). Counselor Jim speaks about students expressing concern towards drugs themselves (04:05). A high school (04:24). The high school’s counselor, Bryce, speaks about initiatives against drugs (04:32). Mendocino State hospital (04:40) and the hospital’s program ‘The Family’ against drug abuse (04:49). Two ex-addicts, Ed and Jim, from the hospital’s program are walking (05:02). They arrive to Fort Bragg and walk through town (06:10). The sign for the “Awareness House” (06:47). Ex-addicts Ed and Jim are speaking to one Awareness House member (06:52) and they walk inside the house (06:57). A meeting between the members is happening (07:06). A button being sown onto a shirt (07:27). Curlers are put in a young girl’s hair (07:32). Footage of the Awareness House meeting and members telling stories (07:40). Ex-addicts Jim and Ed speak to the young members and guide them on stopping to use drugs (11:35). Members tell stories where drugs made them sick (11:38). Their high school principal speaks about attempting to bring in law enforcement to fight the students’ drug abuse, but then realizing the extent of the students’ abuse was too great (12:32). Members of the Awareness House tell their abuse-stories related to their school and teachers (13:10). Ed and Jim initiate a debate between the youths of the group, and a discussion begins about abuse inevitably effecting others around them (13:39). The discussion continues about how to help others who are addicted to drugs (14:55). Ed and Jim discuss marijuana as the steppingstone to more dangerous drugs (16:29). The Chief of Police in Fort Bragg speaks about the concerning increase in abuse amongst youth, and the positive effects of the Awareness House (17:19). Views of the Awareness House (18:05) and scenes from the young members participating in a meeting inside the house (18:13). The discussion about how to help others who suffer from addiction continues at the meeting led by ex-addicts Ed and Jim (18:20). They open a new discussion about the members’ relations to their families, and the members tell stories related to their parents and siblings (19:25). A button being sown onto a shirt (20:08). A woman is doing gardening (20:19). The meeting at the Awareness House continues and the youths speak more about their family-relations and about communicating with their parents (20:32). A woman is doing gardening (21:17). She puts curlers in her daughter’s hair (21:26). She does dishes (21:37). Footage of the Awareness House members talking to each other (21:46). The members spend time outside by the shoreline (22:19). Credits (22:48).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com