Controlled Substances

Description

In Controlled Substances, a dinner among university friends spirals into a heated clash when the topic of drug criminalization is raised. Six guests from different academic and professional backgrounds enjoy their meal and casual conversation. The topic shifts when the business commerce student brings up a TikTok discussing drug decriminalization in Portugal. What starts as a casual discussion intensifies as differing perspectives emerge. The criminology student raises concerns about enforcement and public safety, while the social work students emphasize harm reduction and accessible support systems. The politics and governance student debates the policy’s feasibility and public perception, while the sociology student highlights systemic inequalities in drug-related issues. Meanwhile, the business commerce student questions the economic implications and potential impact on industries such as pharmaceuticals and law enforcement. As dinner is served and tempers flare, the conflict echoes societal divisions, exposing ideological rifts, personal biases, and institutional blind spots. The conversation becomes intense when their perspectives clash over risk versus rehabilitation. Raised voices and emotional arguments heighten tensions, making it clear that this debate is about deeply held beliefs on justice, morality, and power. However, through moments of dialogue and listening, the group begin to find common ground. Using conflict resolution techniques such as active listening, reframing statements, and acknowledging different lived experiences, they gradually de-escalate the conflict. The conversation reveals that the most volatile elements in debates about justice and reform are not the substances being legislated but the clashing values, assumptions, and power dynamics between those at the table.