Opinion: Analyzing Euphoria’s depiction of substance abuse, through the eyes of a drug addict’s sister

 Author’s note: This column is based entirely on my perspective and my experience. All assumptions, opinions and connections are based on that. In no way am I speaking on behalf of my brother or his experience dealing with substance abuse. 

I stopped watching the hit tv show Euphoria eight minutes into season two, episode five. Not because the plot failed to keep me interested, but because of the panic attack I felt coming immediately after the opening scene.

In this scene, Rue, the main character and a recovering drug addict, enters a fit of rage upon relapsing. Except I was seeing Rue morph into my older brother Vasco.

I began helping take care of a drugged version of my brother when I was thirteen. It seemed like a “no questions asked” kind of affair, my brother was struggling and I had to help him. Help him through the overdoses, the rampages, the pleading, stealing, and much like Rue, the fits of rage. Watching Rue pounding on her sisters’ door, spewing violent threats and insults, was all too familiar. 

My reaction to this particular portrayal has given me the opportunity to reflect on how drug addiction and recovery are depicted in the media, more specifically, in Euphoria. 

The root of the trauma that pushed Rue to addiction appears evident in the series. Her father passed away during her teenage years, leading her to a state of depression and eventual substance abuse. While the experience is completely valid, and most people seek out substances to cope with hardship, it does not always have to be the case. The idea that a person is only likely to fall victim to this disease because of trauma is troubling. In many cases, substance abuse disorder can occur after recreational use, where people don’t see an issue building up. 

My brother’s addiction didn’t come from death or trauma, but a constant social use that ended up becoming a habit. Of course, other aspects came into play, including some mental health issues. But similarly, the idea that trauma has to occur for mental health issues to arise are wrong. A person can struggle without traumatic environmental factors, and a person can be a drug addict without going through a life changing event. 

Another triggering aspect about Euphoria’s portrayal of drug addiction is the depiction of the role friends and family play in Rue’s life, in relation to her addiction. Rue’s best friend, Jules, has come under fire for a variety of her behaviors in the show. Season 1 shows Rue fresh out of rehab, experiencing the early stages of sober life beyond the controlled environment of rehabilitation centers. She meets Jules and quickly becomes dependent on her, something that eventually becomes suffocating for Jules. The moment her new best friend decided to take a step back from this all-consuming friendship, Rue immediately relapsed. Thus, Jules faces her first experience as a villain amongst audience members. 

Here’s the issue. While there is an expectation for being dependable and loyal in friendships, there needs to be a line. Much like romantic relationships, friendships can become toxic the minute one individual becomes too dependent on the other. It’s as if Rue replaced her coveted substances with the addictive presence of her new friend. Healing is a complicated process, and while the support of friends is important, there’s a difference between seeking support and needing someone to stay afloat. I remember vividly that after my brother returned from his first stay at rehab, he clung onto new friends and potential girlfriends. His grip became too much, to the point his best friend told my mom, “I’m not his babysitter.”