TEENAGE BOOBY TRAP (1970)

 An educational comic book from the Department of Justice.

Is it possible...

...that someone you care about has

changed for no apparent reason?

From eager, active, enthusastic

To passive, apathetic, and hopeless

From friendly, open, trusting

To suspicious, antagonistic, alienated

From talkative, clear, expressive

To silent, confused, withdrawn

From dependable, helpful, attentive

To forgetful, vague, disinterested

From confident, poised, self-assured

To oppressed, tormented, persecuted

From vital, healthy, energetic

To nervous, up-tight, restless

From optimistic, cheerful, pleasant

To cynical, pessimistic, moody...?

When someone claims drugs are the answer,

They may be the cause.

(Okay, it's obvious the author of this does not know teenagers.  No teen has ever been all of the positive things listed.  Not even in 1970.  I should know because I was there.  Teenagers are confused, uncertain, questioning, and entirely obsessed with how they fit in with their friends and the world around them.  Teenagers -- and most adults -- a just muddlin' through and trying to  make sense of things.)

This "informational" comic book appears to be targeted to pre-teens, rather than teenagers, explaining that drugs can be good and can save lives but the misuse of drugs if bad, bad, bad and could cost lives.  It does go into a discussion of sedatives, hallucinogens, and stimulants, and the history of drug abuse in past cuiltures,

The main question it asks is is drug abuse a sickness or a crime?  It seems the 1970 Department of Justice has taken the position that  drug dependents need help, not scorn...and that drug dependency can be overcome with

• desire
• proper attitude
• courage, and
• will power

...it's all up to you, kids!

And, beware of marijuana, kids, because POT OPENS THE DOOR!

And using LSD is comparable to playing Russian Roulette.

And the use of amphetamines can lead to paranoia, depression, mental instability, and suicide.

And a barbiturate user can become quickly dangerous and paranoid.

And morphine (or "M" and "Dreamer," as the kids call it) and heroin (or "H," "horse," scag," "Harry," and "joy  powder," as the kids call it) is addictive and bad, bad, bad.

And let's not get into codeine (or "schoolboy," as the kids call it), or methadone and meperidine (Demerol), and other synthetic opiates, which may be used to walk kids down from stronger drug addictions -- they can helpful but do you really want to be in a position to have to use them?

So what can be done about drug abuse (aside from the four points bulleted above, that is)?  Well, education, of course -- which is the purpose of this comic book.

Kids, you have to choose a path -- one that will lead to Despair, Disgrace, Bitterness, Crime, Insecurity, and Dependency...or one that will lead to Self-Respect, Confidence, Security, Acceptance, and Health.  Which one will you choose?

Here's a hint:  the artwork in this book portrays addicts as long-haired, dirty, reclusive, slack-jawed, and looking more than a bit below normal in intelligence (and let's not mention the portrayal of the pregnant addict).

This was an earnest attempt on the part of the Department of Justice in 1970.  I wonder if the DOJ has changed any in the intervening 56 years?

https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=102412