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Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website One of the numerous films created by prolific non-fiction producer Sid Davis, “The Pill Poppers“ is a cautionary educational film that focuses on the dangers of abusing prescription drugs. It opens with the film's director reading the film's script (:19). Three cases are to be depicted of Andy, Kris and Mark (1:12). In a school boy’s locker room, students huff spray paint in a paper bag (1:33). The physical education teacher walks in and catches them (2:08). As the room is cleared, three boy’s remain and one is Andy (2:55). The other two boys in the room tell Mark there’s better ways of getting high such as pills (3:07). Amphetamines affect the brain and spinal cord (3:17). The most common is Benzedrine. Another is methamphetamine hydrochloride (3:50) also known as methamphetamine or speed. The effects can include a drug psychosis similar to the symptoms of paranoid Schizophrenia (4:06). Andy takes a pill (4:29). He then builds a habit as he buys more while watching a car race (5:30). Andy begins to fight with his family (5:56). He hallucinates while crossing the street as he becomes psychologically dependent (6:42). When he cannot sleep due to the effects of the stimulant, he begins to take downers (7:03). Andy experiences fits of rage and violence (7:45). His mental health deteriorates until he is seen in isolation in a mental health facility (8:34). A 1970’s Ford Mustang honks it’s horn outside the home of Kris (8:54). Kris is pictured among hippies in a graffiti filled room smoking marijuana (9:28). Kris is handed ‘reds’ (9:54). Seconal is considered to be one of the most dangerous barbiturates (10:00). Other barbiturates are listed (10:37). Time magazine follows with a header reading “Drugs and the Young” (11:06). An article from January of 1970 is then shown (11:15) stating the rate of drug overdoses entering hospitals. Alcohol is especially dangerous when mixed with ‘downers’ (11:45). Kris buys more pills as her tolerance increases (12:47). Her school work begins to suffer (12:53) and she begins to isolate herself from her parents (13:02). In order to support her habit, she begins shoplifting (13:40). One night, she mixes alcohol with the pills (14:21). A patrol vehicle for the Culver City Police department is viewed as she had overdosed (14:36). Mark is pictured at home with a stepfather he cannot connect with (15:23). His friends offer him Seconal (16:12). As he and friends play outside of a chemical plant (16:18) he decides to stock up and buy more pills (16:34). He debates on taking them once at home and stuffs them under his pillow (17:15). At bowling, Mark is pictured abnormally distracted (17:20). He meets with a friend whom was known for selling drugs (17:40). To his surprise, Willie tells Mark he’s finished with drugs and they will do Mark no good (18:04). At home, Mark flushes the pills down the toilet (19:07). The director returns to wrap up the cases (19:39). In New York and in Los Angeles in the 1970’s, statistics state one person died a day from accidental overdoses (20:41). The film was produced in cooperation with the Culver City Police Department (21:02) and was a Sid Davis Production (21:13). We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ 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
