Euphoria and High School Life: Are the Depictions Realistic Enough?

The 2019 HBO series Euphoria has taken the internet by storm. The overarching themes of sex, drugs, friendship, and identity have left many viewers captivated by this teen drama series. Although this series is based on a group of high school students, we see the plot focusing less on school and more on what experiences lie away from the classrooms.

The production team has attracted some of the best actors in Hollywood, leaving the audience more room to love the show. Star characters Zendaya (Rue) and Jacob Elordi (Nate) have become fan favorites and are vital contributors to the larger audience.

One of the many modern-day issues covered in Euphoria is the concern around sexuality. It portrays a relevant problem about individuals not having the comfort of revealing their true identity. Rue, the main character, has seemed to be front and center of all issues. Sexuality, friendships, and home life have all been struggles for her while all correlate with her looming drug addiction. She gives us more insight into how despite your appearances, character, or way of life, drug addiction is a disease that is difficult to break.

In connection to substance abuse, we see the current battle that teenagers face regarding their mental health. Many different forms of mental health are exemplified in Euphoria, most notably anxiety, depression, and suicide. Even characters that seemingly have the ideal life struggle behind closed doors. Trauma caused by the past continues to follow these teenagers, forcing them into mental distress. Sexual assault has become more prominent in recent years. Just look at the comparison from 2017 to 2018; the self-reported rape or sexual assault cases more than doubled. Shows like Euphoria aim to make viewers aware of the existing problems in hopes of creating some type of change.

This series covers almost all issues a teenager may face; yet it still might seem overwhelming to an audience. Euphoria has left many parents uneasy about what their children might encounter on a daily basis. Not many shows are willing to go this deep into the reality of young adults. A similar teen drama series, 13 Reasons Why, was released in 2017 to cover some of the same themes, primarily highlighting sex, drugs, mental health, and suicide. These shows were written by adults who have experienced high school differently, but why include such dark themes? Is it really what current high school students face?

Many have contradicted that Euphoria was based on a high school story but specifically targeted an older audience of college students. The themes represented in this drama series can be seen more in a college lifestyle; nonetheless, the producer most likely created this setting to widen the range of viewers. Considering Euphoria’s attention on social media, it’s fair to say something was done right.