The interviews were conducted for the purpose of and incorporated into the film Drugs, stuff for thought (René Swetter, SFW 1972).
Five interviews concern users of soft drugs and (former) addicts of hard drugs. The individuals’ experiences range from twice
ever smoked a stickie to twelve years of opium addiction. One interview concerns the wife of a (former) opium addict.
Drugs, stuff for thought made on the initiative of Amsterdam psychiatrist Peter Geerlings.
Faced with a great demand for information on drugs, Geerlings thought it necessary to add a film to the drug information package in circulation in the Netherlands (such as a programme by the Kritische Filmers from Breda, broadcasts by various broadcasters and school television and a series of publications).
Geerlings particularly encountered a lack of information among people who deal with young people on a daily basis at schools, social academies, and training and youth centres. The film: Drugs, stuff for thought, is mainly intended for them. However, the makers of the film will also explore whether the viewing audience can be extended to young people themselves- “The problem with this, however,” says director René Swetter, “is that there are quite a few people who fear that young people interpret this information about drugs as advertising.” A fear that seems unfounded. When you watch and listen to the seven young people who talk about their experience with drugs in the film, you don’t undergo a reaction of: hey, I need to so as well. There is only one boy in the entire film (Jaap, 32, publisher and unmarried says the commentary) who is able to integrate smoking hashish well into his role in social life. The other interviewees smoke. as a reaction to their environment and none of them seem really happy about it. As a result, the film creates a somewhat distorted picture of drug use in the Netherlands. After all, Leuw reaffirmed this with his research among schoolchildren: most users stick to some Incidental experimentation with cannabis.
DRUGS, STUFF TOT NADENKEN, René Swetter, 1972
DRUGS, STUFF TOT NADENKEN (korte versie), René Swetter, 1975
Discussion film (short version) that focuses on breaking taboos around drug use.
After images of stimulants whose use is integrated into social life, such as alcohol, tobacco, sedatives and stimulants, fragments of street interviews on drug use follow. This is followed by interviews with users of soft and hard drugs.
