An officer in flak jacket looks through binoculars on USS Mansfield (DD-738) during Operation Sea Dragon in Vietnam. A man inside bridge talks on phone plotting some information. Captain Brooks W Setzer, Commanding Officer, Destroyer Division 152, donning his flak jacket. An officer looks through binoculars. Signalman uses a signal light to send a message to the USS Hanson (DD-832) in a distance. A second signalman looks through a telescope.
Opening scenes, photographed from the USS Mansfield (DD-728), shows a U.S. Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer bombarding the Vietnamese coast, during Operation Sea Dragon in the Vietnam War. Next, a sailor is seen looking through binoculars at the Mk 37 Director position above the bridge of the Mansfield. Closeup of the gun director. Next the Mansfield fires a salvo to port from one of her forward twin 8-inch guns. Smoke is seen above the shoreline. More views of the gun director punctuated by more salvos from the 8-inch guns. Closeup of gun barrels as they fire. Sailors on deck watching as smoke from firing drifts away. View forward from amidship, showing sailors looking over railing. A Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun (M2) dominates foreground, where it is affixed to the ship railing. More salvos are fired from the Mansfield's forward guns. Shells strike the shore area.
Victims of drug addiction give person al statements. One in a car, one standing beside another man on a roof overlooking a city, and one man behind bars in a prison or jail cell. Actor Paul Newman narrates on the misuse of amphetamines and barbiturates. People use sleeping pills frequently which turn into drug addiction and drug abuse. The Commissioner of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), James L Goddard, seated on table scatter the pills on table and talks. Sleeping pills and bottles of drugs shown in factories and in packaging process. James L Goddard speaks about misuse of sleeping pills by illegal channels and its effects.
James L Goddard speaks about the misuse of pills and drugs not prescribed by physician. He talks about various effects of drugs: great harm to central nervous system, heart and appearance of the individual. He shows two photographs of a young man, one before drug addiction and another after two months of drug abuse and drug addiction.
Drug abuser of illegal drugs is interviewed. He is questioned about pills taken. He talks about taking too long a 'trip.' He recounts a psychotic incident due to drug abuse. Scenes of the aftermath of the psychotic episode are shown, including a wrecked truck with a bullet hole in the windshield and a smashed fire hydrant. An image of a hand holding the handgun used by the drug abuser is shown.
Hollywood actor Paul Newman talks about people taking an overdose of sleeping pills, other illegal drugs and controlled drugs, and harmful effects of drugs. Close up of bottle of sleeping pills. Woman takes an overdose of sleeping pills, while in bed. Close up bottle of sleeping pills knocked over. Teenage boys on motorcycles and gathering in groups in a city. 1960s vintage dancing scene in night club with young men and women dancing. Woman finishing off drinking a glass of wine.