THE TURNED ON CRISIS, part 1

Year Published: 1970

Description: Hosted by O.J. Simpson, this Peabody Award winning TV show "The Turned on Crisis" (1970) features Dr. Helen Howlis of the University of Rochester, Dr. Sidney Cohen of the NIH, Surgeon General Jesse Steinfeld, and guest celebrities Marty Allen, Frank Gorshin, Ed Nelson, Greg Morris, Judy Pace, Percy Rodriguez and Arnold Palmer. The show explores the widespread issue of drug abuse, emphasizing both physical and psychological dependence on substances ranging from marijuana and stimulants to narcotics like heroin. Initially considered a problem limited to inner-city communities, drug use has spread to suburban and middle-class populations, affecting youth across the country. The experts explain that no drug is truly safe—whether legal or illegal—and misuse, even of everyday substances like aspirin or caffeine, can be harmful. The program highlights how media, advertising, and adult behavior contribute to a culture that normalizes drug use, influencing children to experiment. Through discussions with experts and youth, the program reveals complex reasons behind drug use, including peer pressure, emotional escape, rebellion, and environmental stress. It concludes by showing that drug use is a historical and cultural issue, not just a modern crisis, and calls for understanding, education, and open dialogue to address the epidemic. 0:00 – Physical dependence on drugs means the body needs increasing amounts and reacts violently without them. 0:36 – Drugs are cheap and easily available on the street. 1:00 – Government stats show high numbers of marijuana and heroin users, especially among youth. 1:28 – Psychological dependence involves emotional reliance on drugs to feel normal. 1:40 – O.J. Simpson introduces the issue: drug abuse is no longer just an inner-city problem; it affects all communities. 2:09 – This program focuses on providing information and understanding to address drug abuse. 3:26 – While we may not fully understand drug abuse, dialogue and sharing experiences is a starting point. 4:01 – Experts and individuals from both coasts will share perspectives on drug use and its impact. 4:19 – Surgeon General Steinfeld explains that many use drugs not from dealers but over-the-counter or prescriptions, often excessively. 5:25 – Even common drugs like aspirin can be harmful when misused. 7:24 – Experts classify the most abused drugs: marijuana, then stimulants and depressants, then hallucinogens like LSD, and finally hard narcotics. 8:42 – LSD use has declined due to fear of genetic damage, but narcotics remain the most dangerous. 9:41 – Alcohol may be the number one drug problem, often underestimated. 10:03 – Drug harm depends on quantity, duration, and reason for use—not just the substance itself. 10:48 – Excessive use of almost any drug—caffeine, alcohol, sleeping pills—can be dangerous over time. 11:00 – West Coast youth discuss how society normalizes drug use through media, advertising, and adult behavior. 12:03 – Kids see their parents’ medicine cabinets full of pills, creating confusion and curiosity. 13:01 – TV commercials suggest there’s a pill for every problem, encouraging a culture of drug reliance. 14:02 – Children are influenced by media to associate drug use with normal behavior and wellness. 18:39 – Group discussion shifts to why kids start using drugs: curiosity, peer pressure, and escaping reality. 20:45 – Drugs provide social acceptance and make it easier to avoid personal problems. 21:18 – Middle-class kids may rebel against their parents through drug use or seek control in unstable family situations. 22:01 – Poverty and peer influence play roles; some use drugs for confidence or to cope with their environment. 23:02 – Heroin users often prioritize the drug over everything else, regardless of the consequences. 24:01 – Psychologist explains drug response is complex—depends on body, mood, personality, context, and purpose. 25:01 – The “addictive personality” is hard to pinpoint; anxiety and depression are risk factors, but many share those traits. 25:30 – Drugs have existed throughout history, and every society has managed them differently. 26:10 – Primitive man used plants to heal and escape fears; some of these were later abused. 26:36 – Chinese used hemp / marijuana for medical purposes; later spread to Europe. 27:11 – Opium led to morphine and heroin; initially used medically, became major sources of addiction.

Complete Record: Hosted by O.J. Simpson, this Peabody Award winning TV show "The Turned on Crisis" (1970) features Dr. Helen Howlis of the University of Rochester, Dr. Sidney Cohen of the NIH, Surgeon General Jesse Steinfeld, and guest celebrities Marty Allen, Frank Gorshin, Ed Nelson, Greg Morris, Judy Pace, Percy Rodriguez and Arnold Palmer. The show explores the widespread issue of drug abuse, emphasizing both physical and psychological dependence on substances ranging from marijuana and stimulants to narcotics like heroin. Initially considered a problem limited to inner-city communities, drug use has spread to suburban and middle-class populations, affecting youth across the country. The experts explain that no drug is truly safe—whether legal or illegal—and misuse, even of everyday substances like aspirin or caffeine, can be harmful. The program highlights how media, advertising, and adult behavior contribute to a culture that normalizes drug use, influencing children to experiment. Through discussions with experts and youth, the program reveals complex reasons behind drug use, including peer pressure, emotional escape, rebellion, and environmental stress. It concludes by showing that drug use is a historical and cultural issue, not just a modern crisis, and calls for understanding, education, and open dialogue to address the epidemic. 0:00 – Physical dependence on drugs means the body needs increasing amounts and reacts violently without them. 0:36 – Drugs are cheap and easily available on the street. 1:00 – Government stats show high numbers of marijuana and heroin users, especially among youth. 1:28 – Psychological dependence involves emotional reliance on drugs to feel normal. 1:40 – O.J. Simpson introduces the issue: drug abuse is no longer just an inner-city problem; it affects all communities. 2:09 – This program focuses on providing information and understanding to address drug abuse. 3:26 – While we may not fully understand drug abuse, dialogue and sharing experiences is a starting point. 4:01 – Experts and individuals from both coasts will share perspectives on drug use and its impact. 4:19 – Surgeon General Steinfeld explains that many use drugs not from dealers but over-the-counter or prescriptions, often excessively. 5:25 – Even common drugs like aspirin can be harmful when misused. 7:24 – Experts classify the most abused drugs: marijuana, then stimulants and depressants, then hallucinogens like LSD, and finally hard narcotics. 8:42 – LSD use has declined due to fear of genetic damage, but narcotics remain the most dangerous. 9:41 – Alcohol may be the number one drug problem, often underestimated. 10:03 – Drug harm depends on quantity, duration, and reason for use—not just the substance itself. 10:48 – Excessive use of almost any drug—caffeine, alcohol, sleeping pills—can be dangerous over time. 11:00 – West Coast youth discuss how society normalizes drug use through media, advertising, and adult behavior. 12:03 – Kids see their parents’ medicine cabinets full of pills, creating confusion and curiosity. 13:01 – TV commercials suggest there’s a pill for every problem, encouraging a culture of drug reliance. 14:02 – Children are influenced by media to associate drug use with normal behavior and wellness. 18:39 – Group discussion shifts to why kids start using drugs: curiosity, peer pressure, and escaping reality. 20:45 – Drugs provide social acceptance and make it easier to avoid personal problems. 21:18 – Middle-class kids may rebel against their parents through drug use or seek control in unstable family situations. 22:01 – Poverty and peer influence play roles; some use drugs for confidence or to cope with their environment. 23:02 – Heroin users often prioritize the drug over everything else, regardless of the consequences. 24:01 – Psychologist explains drug response is complex—depends on body, mood, personality, context, and purpose. 25:01 – The “addictive personality” is hard to pinpoint; anxiety and depression are risk factors, but many share those traits. 25:30 – Drugs have existed throughout history, and every society has managed them differently. 26:10 – Primitive man used plants to heal and escape fears; some of these were later abused. 26:36 – Chinese used hemp / marijuana for medical purposes; later spread to Europe. 27:11 – Opium led to morphine and heroin; initially used medically, became major sources of addiction.