HBO’s “Euphoria” is not a show that shies away from touchy subjects, instead, it embraces them as part of life and growing up in the modern world. The television show is known for its boundary-pushing depiction of opioid addiction, but fans and critics alike are quick to claim that “Euphoria” has a habit of romanticizing drug abuse.

Critics of “Euphoria” commended the show for glorifying substance abuse. With flashy imagery and ostentatious costumes in every scene, even ones depicting overdoses, “Euphoria” has earned a reputation for its problematic portrayal of addiction. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (D.A.R.E) spoke out against “Euphoria” in an interview with TMZ.

“Rather than further each parent’s desire to keep their children safe from the potentially horrific consequences of drug abuse and other high-risk behavior, HBO’s television drama, Euphoria, chooses to misguidedly glorify and erroneously depict high school students’ drug use, addiction,” D.A.R.E said.

However “Euphoria” fans were eager to jump on the show’s defense, saying the show is pushing boundaries in efforts to destigmatize and humanize addiction. “Euphoria’s” showrunner Sam Levension had a similar statement while speaking out against D.A.R.E’s criticisms in an email to Vulture.

I found those criticisms frustrating and kind of lazy because they’re essentially about the subjective experience of watching a television show, and not the individual experience of being caught in the painful cycle of addiction,” Sam Levenson said.

Fans of “Euphoria” have stated that the boundary-pushing nature of the show should be welcomed. “Euphoria’s” depiction of addiction are vital messages grounded in honesty and realism and have even been shown to help its teen audience, with several viewers citing “Euphoria” as a turning point in their addiction.

So rather than simply being scandalized by the abuse and drug use on “Euphoria”, viewers could take a breath and ask what its presence is telling us about the world of the show and our world alike.