Unit 4: The Art Controversy Guide

A Beautiful Blur: Is Euphoria Telling the Truth About Drugs?

Euphoria premiered on HBO Max in 2019 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Starring Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and Hunter Schafer, the series delves into the intense and emotional lives of high school seniors, centering on Rue portrayed by Zendaya, a troubled teen navigating drug addiction and the grief of losing her father. The show has received widespread popularity for its intriguing cinematography and unique artistic vision, expressed through powerful storytelling, intense visuals, and rich symbolism. Rated TV-MA, Euphoria presents many complex themes such as substance abuse, broken families, alcoholism, and sexual content, these are topics that strongly resonate with younger audiences.

Despite its popularity, the series has sparked controversy, drawing criticism from parents, advocacy groups, and anti-drug programs who argue that it glamorizes drug use and may negatively influence impressionable viewers. These concerns have circulated widely in the media. In response, the show’s creators have defended its purpose, emphasizing that the narrative is intended to expose the complex and painful realities of addiction, not to glorify it. The conversation surrounding the show’s impact remains ongoing, as anticipation builds for its third season, set to begin production in late 2025.

This guide highlights three key stakeholders in the debate surrounding Euphoria: the show's creators, its viewers, and anti-drug activists. Each perspective offers unique insight into the ongoing discussion about whether Euphoria glorifies drug use or presents it as a complex emotional storyline.

A Clip of Euphoria

This short video highlights a powerful scene from Season 2, Episode 5 of Euphoria, in which Rue suffers an overdose and refuses treatment or rehab. It also features Zendaya's insights into the intentions behind the episode’s direction, as she explains the meaning and emotional impact the creators aimed to convey to viewers.

Key Terms and Concepts

Euphoria → A feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness.
Relapse → When a person returns to using drugs or alcohol after a period of sobriety.
Overdose → An excessive and dangerous dose of a drug.
D.A.R.E. program → Drug Abuse Resistance Education, an American education program aimed at preventing drug use, gang membership, and violent behavior in children.
TV-MA rating→ The program is designed for adults and may not be suitable for viewing by children under 17.

STAKEHOLDER 1: The Director

Euphoria’s creator and director, Sam Levinson, has been candid about how his personal struggles with addiction have shaped the series. While some viewers view Euphoria as overly graphic or potentially triggering, Levinson has made it clear that his goal is not to glorify drug use but rather to portray the emotional chaos and complexity of teenage life through a deeply personal lens. In an interview, Levinson discusses a particularly powerful scene involving Rue’s relapse and her recurring visions of her late father. Levinson draws on this idea directly from his own near-death experiences with addiction. Levinson elaborates in the interview:

“Yeah, I'm always interested in strange spiritual connections, like getting close to death with drugs, and I think that's based on my own experiences with overdosing. I tried to mirror it in the final episode, where her father is the only person who can really see her — in the afterlife, he can embrace her. It's the reconciliation of the beauty and temporary relief that drugs can bring, mixed with the true horror and danger. The media tends to depict addiction as an escape, which is sometimes very true. But I would also use drugs at times to feel the beauty in life. In my younger years, it would be the only time in which I could quiet all my anxieties and fears about myself and about being harmed, and I could be fully present. I was trying to play with those ideas”(Television Academy).

Rather than portraying addiction as purely escapist, Levinson explores the duality of drug use—the fleeting sense of beauty and peace it can provide, contrasted with its overwhelming danger and destructiveness. Levinson’s strength in his argument is how he explains that Euphoria is an outlet to reflect the emotional complexity of addiction, not to romanticize it, but to depict it with honesty and vulnerability. This nuanced perspective is often missed by critics, especially parental figures, who argue the show glamorizes harmful behavior. In reality, Levinson offers a deeply personal portrayal of addiction, one that highlights its allure, its pain, and its lasting impact, encouraging viewers to confront the difficult truths behind substance abuse rather than turning away from it.

However, one of Levinson’s weaknesses in his argument is emphasizing the use of drugs to “feel the beauty” in life. Levinson risks unintentionally romanticizing or aestheticizing addiction, especially to younger audiences who may not fully grasp the horror Levinson also refers to. The balance Levinson aims to portray in the show between the seduction of drugs and the horror is a hard one to decipher and come to terms with, which ultimately explains why Euphoria has become a controversial show.

Sam Levinson

Director of Euphoria

Natalie Alcala

Former Drug Addict

STAKEHOLDER 2: The Consumer

Natalie Alcala is a young writer and entrepreneur who enjoys watching the show Euphoria. As a former drug addict, she offers a unique and personal perspective on the series, emphasizing that it presents a raw and realistic portrayal of drug abuse rather than glorifying it. In a pop culture article for Bazaar, she writes:

“Euphoria, for me, is less glamor and more mirror. It’s a reflection of what the drug abuse experience really looks like. Drugs were my escape from my mind. Just as drug abuse has super-high highs and devastating lows, Euphoria’s lows slap those rose-colored glasses right off me, reminding me that, hell no, I do not want to be True right now. The show quite literally saves me, and I’m sure it’s saving current drug abusers and their families by prompting them to have the big talk” (Alcala).

Alcala’s strength in her argument is that she provides an honest reflection that highlights how her personal experience “mirrors” the intense and painful moments portrayed in Euphoria, such as Rue’s withdrawal and overdose. Alcala makes it clear that the show does not glamorize drug use. Instead, it tells the truth about its consequences. This perspective is especially important because it demonstrates how Euphoria resonates with people who have lived through addiction themselves. Alcala also emphasizes that the show is a powerful starting point for much-needed conversations about drug abuse. By encouraging open conversation, Euphoria helps shift the public narrative from one rooted in fear and blame to one grounded in empathy, understanding, and healing.

However, a key weakness in Alcala’s perspective is that while her personal experience is valid and deeply meaningful, it is not taken as a universal truth. Other former addicts may have very different reactions to Euphoria—some might even find the show triggering or harmful. Her opinion, though powerful, does not make her journey more legitimate than others. Additionally, her claim that “the show quite literally saves lives” comes across as emotionally charged and potentially exaggerated. While it represents the personal impact the show has had on her, it may seem overly subjective to a broader audience. Overall, Alcala’s argument leans more on emotional resonance than a thorough critical analysis of the show’s themes and execution.

STAKEHOLDER 3: The Anti-Drug Activist

Opposing perspectives come from anti-drug activists who argue that Euphoria glorifies drug use and is inappropriate for young audiences. One of the most vocal critics is the D.A.R.E. program, a long-standing anti-drug organization that has worked for over 40 years to educate and protect young people from substance abuse. In response to the show, D.A.R.E. stated:

“Rather than further each parent’s desire to keep their children safe from the potentially horrific consequences of drug abuse and other high-risk behavior, HBO’s television drama, Euphoria, chooses to misguidedly glorify and erroneously depict high school student drug use, addiction, anonymous sex, violence, and other destructive behaviors as common and widespread in today’s world” (Greenfield).

D.A.R.E. has a strong argument, given its credentials as an organization, its central point is to protect young adolescents from influences involved, drug use, and violence, explaining why Euphoria is dangerous for young viewers. This also aligns with their mission statement as an organization, appealing to parents, educators, and public health advocates.

However, a major weakness in D.A.R.E.’s argument is its lack of support for the argument. D.A.R.E. fails to provide specific examples or detailed reasoning to support the claim that Euphoria is inherently dangerous, instead broadly referencing the mature themes the show portrays. Additionally, Euphoria is rated TV-MA, indicating it is intended for mature audiences only. Placing full blame on the show for its influence on younger viewers ignores important factors such as parental responsibility, content warnings, and established age restrictions. Holding Euphoria solely accountable overlooks the broader context in which media is consumed.

D.A.R.E.

Anti-Drug Prevention Program

WORKS CITED

Alcala, Natalie. "Euphoria Holds Up a Mirror to My Addiction Experience." Bazaar, 20 Feb. 2022.

Greenfield, Beth. "Does 'Euphoria' cause 'potential negative consequences' for teens? Experts say it depends: 'genetics, temperament, life experiences..'" Newport Healthcare, 1 Feb. 2022.

"Television Academy." Interview by Sam Levinson. Sam Levinson on Euphoria, hosted by Neil Landau.Television Academy, www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/ tv-showrunners-roadmap-sam-levinson euphoria#:~:text=With%20season%20two%2C%20my%20producing,%2C%20%22Emotions%20Spoken%20Here.%22. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025. Transcript.

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