How I Learned Not To Use Drugs Recreationally

First I want to preface this by saying that I am not the first person to write about this video on the internet. It is admittedly pretty much impossible to be the first at anything on the internet but I will say that I have definitely seen this and I remember that it was definitely elementary school when I saw it.

'Straight Up' is a video series that was made in 1988. It is a educational video warning us all on the dangers of drug use. It stars, and believe me I am using "stars" as loosely as possible, Louis Gossett Junior who was just a few years removed from his oscar winning performance in An Officer and a Gentleman. I should say that he is more of a featured player as opposed to the star. Anyways the video starts out with our main dude in a parking ramp skateboarding around when a gang of cooler kids all who can't be much older than 12 also show up on their skateboards. The ring leader is Kevin. One kid shows up with two beers, the asian chick shows up with what appears to be a joint or two and a bag of what I assume is what the insiders on the drug trade would call 'shake', and another kid brings a pack of cigarettes. Now Kevin busts out a bottle of scotch. Personally...this sounds like a pretty good time but peer pressure starts to get to our main character as he rolls up.

I'm not going to summarize the whole thing but anyways our main dude gets in the elevator to leave the parking ramp but instead its the "FATE ELEVATOR" and it is being commanded by Louis Gossett Jr. Pretty awesome shit right? He starts singing and dancing and basically you see why you shouldn't drink alcohol (Because you'll become a degenerate drunk) or smoke weed (its a gateway drug and it also shortens your life).

What I realized while watching this though is that I saw this in I believe 4th or 5th grade. I was around 11 or so when I saw this. Basically all the information and the "story" of the video flew over my head. I didn't know what the fuck was going on. In fact it was just basically confusing but simultaneously a joke. I distinctly remember a friend of mine singing the "Fate Elevator" song in a mocking tone later on. Not to mention I distinctly remember at the time this feeling dated when I saw it yet it was only a few years old at that point. Furthermore I can't imagine what my teachers were thinking when showing this. Obviously when you're a kid you imagine that all teachers are old as hell, but I know at least a few were pretty new. That means they could be as young as 23 or 25 or so. These are people who I AM NOW, meaning I feel like I'm pretty hip and still able to be "cool." Watching this type of video if I was a teacher right now would mean I would probably laugh my ass off.

There really isn't much for me to say except I think you should watch this video now.