Relatable Nature of Rue's Addiction

With the latest stats, Euphoria is expected to surpass its expectations of viewership for the final episode. What is it about this “controversial” teenage drama that has people hooked? One of the reasons, at least for me, is the surprisingly humorous drug addiction of the show’s main character.

Rue (Zendaya) has spent almost her entire teenage years as a drug addict. Yes, this show is full of teenagers smoking pot, snorting coke, and drinking alcohol. Also, however, there are teenagers casually partaking in psychedelic drugs. Of course, this is just the surface of it all.

Euphoria does not glamourize the use of drugs. Aesthetically, drug usage can be beautiful but there are real consequences. Speaking broadly, using hard drugs at a young age typically points to a bigger issue. Simply put, drug use stems from a deeper issue that can be broken down into three broad categories: wanting to feel more, feel less, or fit in. My apologies for the simplicity of this description but I am focusing on the similar effects drugs and love have on a person.

Our main character uses drugs as a coping mechanism. Since she was a small child, Rue has battled obsessive-compulsive disorder coupled with severe anxiety. In the first episode, Rue is diagnosed as a child to have these disorders. The show does not, however, mention Rue going through any counseling or therapy for her mental illnesses. Additionally, Rue is dealing with the loss of a parent who she nursed in his final stages of life. Life is not a fair deal, but all of this is more than a fair amount for a teenager to go through. So, out of curiosity, Rue takes a pill from her dying dad. Quickly, she becomes addicted and we spend the first episode watching Rue take drugs from her mom or from the ten-year-old drug dealer.

Slowly, the show begins to shift, as does Rue’s addiction. After becoming friends with Jules, Rue starts to leave drugs behind. It’s a struggle. Drug addiction is no laughing matter, regardless of how funny the narrator’s comments about it may be. Although Jules has her own set of issues, she has found a way to live her life genuinely. Soon, Rue has a new addiction: Jules. And like drugs, Rue becomes addicted, some may even argue, co-dependent on Jules. Again, this is just the surface. At the root of this new addiction is a part of life many humans struggle with.

The feeling Rue gets from being friends with Jules is similar to the feeling she gets from drugs. In a way, this show is the classic “love is a drug” story. Love can be the most powerful drug; love can make you do things, see things, or feel things you never knew were possible. True love is more permanent than any high. Imagine finding someone who gives you the same feeling LSD gives Rue. She describes what that initial high was like for her. For the first time in her life, the world slowed down enough for her to be able to breathe, to feel peace. That is the feeling Jules gives Rue. When they are together, Rue can feel at peace. No matter what’s going on in life, no matter what high school drama is stirring up, Rue feels like everything is okay. Everything is going to be okay.

Like drugs, love changes who you are. You stop doing things for yourself and start doing them out of the love you have for another individual. Making that person smile or doing a favor that means the world to them will come naturally. Perhaps you start seeing yourself in the same way that they do. Their love for you and your love for them waters the “self-love” plant that has been neglected for so long. You even become protective of that person. With all of your might, you do your best not to bring pain to that person. It would pain you to see them hurt.

When Rue gets high, her surroundings change; the world becomes a different, more beautiful hue. “I’m so happy,” Rue halfway slurs during her high. Her words are as true at that moment as they are in all of her moments with Jules. She feels that same happiness — that same high — when she is with Jules. Partially speaking from experience, when someone loves you for who you are, it makes you feel like you will float away. Simultaneously, their love is keeping you grounded.

All of this may still sound like a person who is co-dependent. On the other hand, the audience must consider the addictive nature of someone like Rue. Relatably, Rue has an addictive personality along with her mental illnesses. Someone with an addictive personality is dealing with the feeling of love in the best way they can. Rue is trying to maintain that feeling and does well at keeping it under control for the most part. It may come off as obsessive or overwhelming but they don’t want to lose that feeling of pure happiness.

Five episodes into a “controversial” teenage drama and I find myself empathizing with the main character. I anticipate seeing how the shift in Rue’s addiction will continue to affect her.