Social Realism Themes Explored - Drugs

In modern films, the theme of drugs is often used in connection with adolescence, due to the increase in legal highs, as well as adolescence providing issues such as peer pressure, boredom, stress, uncertainty, change (both physical and psychological), new situations, life-changing decisions etc. This is often used in combination with the theme of drugs, as it is a popular social issue in modern day environments.

Within older films, the theme of drugs has more connection to large criminal organisations such as the mafia.

The clip below, from Ray (2004), shows some of the negative effects of drug abuse, including conflict with spouses and family members, and shows how it can affect more than just the abuser.
This kind of scene, showing a difficult moment of tension between close people caused by abuse of drugs, could certainly fit in well within a Social Realism production.