Introduction
Substance abuse is among the most concerning issues that teenagers and young adults face nowadays. Since these groups tend to be influenced by TV shows and other media resources, the latter strive to take an active role in raising awareness about the negative consequences of drug misuse and abuse. However, to make the audience interested in such pieces of popular culture, media creators have to add certain elements that can eventually glamorize the acute social topic. Despite what critics state, Euphoria and similar TV shows for young adults do not promote substance abuse but successfully raise awareness and emphasize prevention measures, in some cases, achieving it through glamorization.
Plot Summary
First released by HBO in 2019, Sam Levinson’s teen drama TV show Euphoria gained popularity and received both praise and criticism. This series follows the rehabilitation and relapse journey of Rue Bennett, who does not often show her desire to address it and get healed (Rosenblatt). Simon notices that one reason why this show received such increased attention is that it demonstrates the ugliness, dangers, and severe consequences of substance abuse.
Rue goes through different physical diseases like kidney failure and bladder control problems, loses consciousness, has issues with the police, suffers from social isolation and constant pain, and experiences harsh drug withdrawal. What is more, she becomes highly manipulative, gets into fights with her loved ones, and turns into an entirely different person due to using drugs (Simon). This series highlights the brutal consequences of addictions and warns teenagers and young adults of the dangers that await them if they choose this path, as well as the difficulties of deviating from it.
Raising Awareness
Some critics doubt whether such exaggerated depictions are actually necessary. For instance, Law provides an opinion that the show itself is highly unrealistic, mainly because the issue of drug addiction is not common among the young audience, and this view is supported by Patti (3-5). However, Law then provides scary statistics, stating that “in the U.S., about 1.6 million kids ages 12 to 17 – 6.3% of the adolescent population – had substance use disorder in 2020.”
Unfortunately, the problem is widespread; while not every teenager engages in taking drugs, more than a million and a half do, and Euphoria attempts to raise their awareness. Additionally, many viewers still find the show quite realistic and can relate to Ruth’s experiences (Kaufman et al. 4). Exaggeration and certain unrealism are not drawbacks of this series, but rather practical tools that attract the audience’s attention and make the show enjoyable, only to reveal the ugly truth.
Providing Support
Further, Euphoria is found to provide inspiration and empowerment to addicted females, which is required nowadays. According to Ruiz, this group has been facing this concern for decades (2011). Alkhalifa mentions that “women have had a 270% increased overdose death rate over the past twenty years,” and Ruth’s successes and failures help females realize they are not alone in their struggles (7). Froment supports this opinion, concluding that “a show like Euphoria that is relatable is comforting, which can make women feel that their pain can be talked about and that they can get help.”
Critique
At the same time, critics argue that this and similar TV shows, including Skins (2007-2013), glamorize drug abuse and can increase this problem among their audience, considering that many teenagers watch them (Buckingham 144, 166; Simon; Rosenblatt). Euphoria includes glamorization, but only to prove the point that while using drugs can seem a beautiful, mind-opening, glittering, and creative experience (which is how the first season of the show looks), it is hideous and dangerous. Without being glamorized, the social concern would not attract so much attention.
Conclusion
To conclude, Euphoria and similar TV drama series successfully raise awareness about the negative consequences of substance addiction. This series is indeed unrealistic to some extent and includes the glamorization of using drugs, but these are the means by which it achieves its purpose and has become influential. Teenagers and young adults tend to glamorize addictions even without such shows, and Euphoria offers their perspective to reveal the intense truth.
Works Cited
Alkhalifa, Ali. Euphoria: The High Highs and Low Lows. 2022. Ohio State U, Doctoral dissertation.
Buckingham, David. Youth on Screen: Representing Young People in Film and Television. John Wiley & Sons, 2021.
Froment, Siena. “Euphoria: The Representation of Female Pain and its Manifestations.” Medium, 2021.
Kaufman, Michelle R., et al. “‘This Show Hits Really Close to Home on so Many Levels’: An Analysis of Reddit Comments About HBO’s Euphoria to Understand Viewers’ Experiences of and Reactions to Substance Use and Mental Illness.” Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 220, 2021.
Law, Tara. “What Euphoria Gets Right — and Wrong —About Teen Drug Use and Addiction.” Time, 2022.
Patti, Victoria. The Lot: Stories From the Modern American High School. 2020. Syracuse U, Doctoral dissertation.
Rosenblatt, Kalhan. “D.A.R.E. Says HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ Glamorizes Drug Use, Sex and Violence.” NBC News, 2022.
Ruiz, Jason. Narcomedia: Latinidad, Popular Culture, and America’s War on Drugs. University of Texas Press, 2023.
Simon, Rachel. “How ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 Reveals the True Ugliness of Teen Drug Use.” NBC News, 2022.