Why can’t writers get teen dramas right - the answer is complicated

On the surface, it’s easy to see why audiences compare Skins and Euphoria – both centres of a group of teens whose lives are more interesting than ours ever were. But, the truth is, Euphoria and Skins are a lot more nuanced than this comparison gives them credit for, and aren’t as similar as they might appear, writes The Digital Fix. 

The article says both Skins and Euphoria pride themselves on showing a ‘gritty’ portrayal of teenager life – but Skins has done it slightly better. It shows the hard truths as well as the “day-to-day mundanity” of everyday life. 

When it comes to glamouring drugs, Skins is responsible. The series shows the glittery highs of drug use but unlike Euphoria it never really highlighted the dark consequences and realities of addiction.

Drugs Everywhere

Euphoria has drugs everywhere, one of the first things you learn about Zendaya’s character Rue is that she’s a drug addict. Whilst Rue is the central character, the show jumps between several friendship groups and addiction is everywhere. It seems like every character is an addict, whether it’s alcohol, sex, status, or just good old-fashioned narcotics, writes ScreenRant. 

ScreenRant says the pilot sets up an interesting debate: Rue has OCD and has been medicated for it her whole life, she’s also an addict. “While neither type of drug is comparable, there’s an irony developing with her mom forcing her to take drug tests and also supplying her with behavioural medication.”

Euphoria reflecting America’s opioid crisis 

The Spinoff discusses the accusations of Euphoria glamouring drug use and suggests that the trouble with this take is that it misses the point that art often reflects reality – in Euphoria’s case “a distorted, hyper-real version”. 

America is in the middle of an opioid epidemic right now and thousands are dying every month, over a crisis spurred on “by the inhumane and racist war on drugs, a poorly regulated pharmaceutical industry, a privatised health system, and more specifically, the drug fentanyl entering the black market.” 

According to the article, it makes sense that a US show features a young lead character who forms an addiction to prescription pharmaceuticals and other substances and is then introduced to fentanyl. 

Euphoria glamourises drug use at certain points, there are moments when Rue compares her opioid addiction to the allure of her girlfriend.

Rue’s storyline may be viewed differently by those watching outside of the US – it, like Skins, is very particular to the country it is set in. 

Skins reflected the drinking and partying lifestyles that were fairly specific to UK teenagers and culture in the 00s. Whilst it was exaggerated, it was a fairly accurate portrayal – and felt very British. Euphoria is the same – but for an America facing a culture of opioids. 

One issue some have taken with Euphoria’s depiction of drug use is the way it “perpetuates some aspects of the failed war on drugs” using stigmatised language.

The use of language such as being ‘clean’ or suggesting a ‘pure body’ is the only acceptable state. “For Rue, and some real-life drug users, abstinence is the only option. But this clean/dirty dichotomy, one of the many myths arising from the war on drugs, does not help anyone.”

But the article makes note that around 90 per cent of people who use drugs do not experience serious harm and Euphoria does get several things right about drug use. 

The show does well in explaining that there can be more traumatic things underpinning drug use with a whole range of impacts –  from pure hedonistic pleasure to acute incidents and emergencies.