Hijacked: The Neuroscience Behind SUD's and Addiction

Abstract

Euphoria—the most tweeted-about TV show of the decade in the U.S. [1]— has brought teenage drug use into the public spotlight. The show follows the troubled life of 17-year-old Rue, a drug addict fresh from rehab who has no plans to stay clean. Rue's battles with mental illness and addiction are not unusual, and her predisposition to self-medicate with dangerous drugs, particularly painkillers, is not at all out of the ordinary. This is a reality that many young addicts face today, and many people struggling with a substance use disorder can relate to Rue’s story [2]. The creator, Sam Levinson, utilizes Rue's character to raise awareness and empathy for difficult topics such as substance abuse and mental health. As someone with a past substance use disorder (SUD), he felt it was important to demonstrate the relief that drugs can bring to someone suffering from anxiety or depression - as well as the emotional turmoil that they can cause [2]. Euphoria depicts the pain that comes with drug abuse, as well as the constant need to continue using drugs despite the pain.