Usually drugs and alcohol are glamorized by the media, but you might remember there was a time when family friendly television touched on substance abuse as an important and controversial topic. Here are 10 classic sitcom “Very Special” episodes that you may remember watching from when you were growing up. These episodes of sitcoms about drugs help to illustrate valuable lessons for the viewing audience, both when they were released and today.
Growing Pains – Thank God it’s Friday
Mike and his friends get invited to a college party and when they arrive they find the guests doing cocaine. They are expected to do cocaine as well or be considered “uncool.”
[youtube=https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/uSFGsgm_0vI?start=100]
The Golden Girls – High Anxiety
In this episode, Rose’s prescription medicine is accidentally dropped down the sink by Sophia, resulting in the discovery that Rose is addicted to her pills. As she goes through withdrawals, her friends stand beside her and offer support.
[youtube=https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/TX6yjF4vPns?start=1223]
Roseanne – A Stash from the Past
Roseanne finds pot in the house and lectures David who takes the blame because he assumed it was Darlene’s. After Roseanne tells Dan, they realize the pot is actually theirs from 20 years ago. Roseanne’s sister Jackie joins them in rolling a joint and getting high for old times sake, but they eventually all realize what a bad choice it was to get high.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiKb7PyL884]
Family Matters – Life of the Party
When Steve Urkel goes to a party he is offered a glass of punch, but isn’t told it is spiked with whiskey. A drunk Urkel falls off the roof and clings to a clothesline, he is saved by Rachel and the guys who spiked the punch end up in jail.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARxu7s38XRg]
Saved by the Bell – Jesse’s Song
To keep up with the demands of school and her new singing group Hot Sundae, Jesse starts taking caffeine pills despite the warnings of Slater. When Zach hears this news, he cancels her performance and is there to help her get off the caffeine pills.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bflYjF90t7c]
The Cosby Show – I’m ‘In’ with the ‘In’ Crowd
Vanessa goes to a party with a bunch of girl friends where they make up a drinking game and get drunk. She suffers a terrible hang over and an interesting reaction from her family.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9pKhdjeM1k]
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – Just Say Yo
Will is struggling to keep up with school, work and having a girlfriend and decides to use amphetamine pills to give him more energy. Carlton ends up in the hospital when he asks Will for some vitamins and takes some from Will’s locker but they are the wrong pills
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrhHqTv_kvA]
The Cosby Show – Close to Home
Denise’s friend suffers from cocaine and alcohol addiction and is sent back to rehab for the third time. Her father confides in Cliff about their family experience with her addiction.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyxijIdFn9o]
Blossom – Three O’clock and All is Hell
Blossom’s brother Anthony has to have a wisdom tooth pulled and fears falling off the wagon due to the prescription painkillers his dentist will prescribe.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKd2GXqIaH8]
Growing Pains – Second Chance
Carol loses her boyfriend Sandy to internal bleeding that is a result of a drunk driving accident.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvqUUuveuiU]
What classic sitcom episodes about Drug and Alcohol abuse do you remember? Let us know in the comments!
