“El Juanio” Westside kids help stop an epidemic.

  In the mid 70s we had a major epidemic that affected mostly Mejicanos and Chicano youth.  From Mexico City to cities in the midwest and all over Texas.  Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Laredo, the valley, wherever raza lived, especially in public housing, paint sniffing by teens and children as young as 6 years old were getting addicted by the thousands.  Surprisingly white and black youth were not affected.  Because it did not affect their children, politicians ignored the problem.  In San Antonio, Dario Chapa and the Mexican American Neighborhood Civic Organization pushed for a law outlawing the sale of paint to minors. MANCO working with substance abuse children wanted to show politicos how bad paint sniffing was hurting our youth, “El Juanio” was produced by Efrain Gutierrez with music by Steve Jordan. After viewing “El Juanio” Newly elected governor Bill Clemens passed a law that made the sale of paint to anyone under 18 years old, illegal. Thet law stopped the paint sniffing epidemic.

For the next week you can view this historical film for free.  . Expires May 29th

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