Drama Cult Classic

Police training meets drugsploitation as officers confront the roots and realities of narcotics abuse.

THE NARCOTICS STORY

1958 · 1h 15m · NR · Drama · IMDB TMDB

Semi-documentary on how marijuana dealers lure small-town teenagers into heroin use and prostitution and how the police help to fight it.

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Quick Answer

What is The Narcotics Story about?

The Narcotics Story is a 1958 United Arab Emirates drama film directed by Robert W. Larsen about law enforcement's battle against narcotics, dramatizing how police identify, track, and apprehend drug users and dealers, while exploring the underlying causes of addiction.

Programmer's Pick

If you crave your drugsploitation served with a stiff side of police training film, this is the fix. Come for the jargon—"goof balls" and "tea"—stay for the earnest attempts to decode youth culture in a world of barbiturates and parental neglect.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Blending police procedural with public service announcement, The Narcotics Story dramatizes real-life cases to illustrate the daily grind of law enforcement in combating narcotics use. With a particular focus on barbiturates and marijuana—referred to as "goof balls" and "tea"—the film instructs viewers on how to spot signs of drug use, identify dealing hotspots, and recognize suspicious behavior in public spaces. Through the story of a young woman neglected by her parents, it highlights not only the visible symptoms of addiction but also the social and familial issues that often go overlooked. The tone is educational and cautionary, targeting both officers and the general public in an era of mounting concern over teenage drug use.