Coronation Street delivered a gripping and intense episode on Monday, June 23, 2025, plunging its viewers into a dark and dramatic tale centered on teen drug use and its harrowing consequences. The episode, available early on ITVX before its television broadcast, marked the surprise return of a major character and unfolded a midsummer party that quickly spiraled out of control, setting the stage for emotional turmoil and shocking twists.
The catalyst for the chaos was Aadi Alahan, played by Adam Hussain, who, encouraged by Bernie, decided to throw a midsummer party in an attempt to shed his dull image. However, the invite list soon ballooned beyond his control, with many of the Street’s teenagers and numerous strangers flooding the event. The house was buzzing with excitement but also tension, especially when Brody Michaelis, portrayed by Ryan Mulvey, arrived with a batch of LSD.
Aadi’s personal life also took center stage during the episode. He grew closer to Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney), sharing a kiss that seemed to rekindle their connection. Yet, Aadi’s optimism was quickly deflated when he overheard Amy confessing that she felt nothing, a poignant admission rooted in her lingering trauma from her ordeal with Aaron. This emotional undercurrent added depth to the unfolding drama, highlighting the complexities of young relationships shadowed by past pain.
The party’s atmosphere turned volatile when Brody and Aadi clashed over the drugs. After a heated fight, Brody left, abandoning the LSD behind. In a surprising move, Aadi suggested that Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher) and Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) take the drugs themselves. This decision would prove pivotal, as the consequences of the LSD would soon ripple through the community.
As the party raged on, Aadi noticed his cup, containing lemonade mixed with LSD, had gone missing. His initial fear was that his sister Asha, who was preparing for her paramedic shift, might have accidentally consumed it. Thankfully, she was unharmed. The mystery was soon solved when Aadi and Asha realized that Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) had taken the drug.
Lauren’s journey through the episode was one of the most harrowing. After ingesting the LSD, she wandered into the ginnel, where she began to hallucinate terrifying visions of her late abuser, Joel, reprised by Calum Lill. The hallucinations drove her to panic and flee, leading her to enter the Underworld factory, which had been left unlocked by Betsy Swain (Sydney Martin) in her haste to attend a night out with Carla Connor (Alison King) and Lisa (Vicky Myers).
Aadi followed Lauren to help, but in her drug-induced state, she mistook his voice for Joel’s, intensifying her distress. Carla and Lisa returned to check on the factory, and with Aadi’s help, they managed to find Lauren as she attempted to escape through the fire escape. After a fall down the steps, Lauren was taken back to the house, where she was visibly distraught and exhausted, eventually falling asleep in Aadi’s bed. The emotional toll of her experience was palpable, underscoring the dangers of drug use and unresolved trauma.
Meanwhile, Nina and Summer’s trip on LSD took a dark turn. The two girls left the party in a highly distressed state, eventually arriving back at the café sobbing. They agreed they couldn’t return to the party, but the true nature of their harrowing experience remained shrouded in mystery. Rumors hinted at a traumatic event during their hallucinations that involved leaving someone for dead, raising the stakes for the coming episodes.
The episode also set up further conflict for Aadi, who found himself in hot water with DC Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) following reports of drugs at the party. This development promises to add legal and moral complications to Aadi’s storyline as the week unfolds.
Coronation Street’s choice to explore the impact of drug use on its younger characters adds a sobering layer to the show’s narrative. The episode’s portrayal of Lauren’s hallucinations and the emotional fallout for Amy, Nina, and Summer highlights the complex realities many teens face today. The return of Lauren’s abuser Joel in her visions serves as a haunting reminder of the lasting scars abuse can leave, particularly when compounded by substance use.
As viewers await the next installments, questions loom large: How will Lauren recover from her terrifying experience? What exactly happened to Nina and Summer during their LSD trip? And will Aadi’s involvement with the drugs lead to severe consequences?
Coronation Street continues to air on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8 pm on ITV1, with episodes available earlier on the streaming platform ITVX. This latest episode not only captivated audiences with its suspense and emotional depth but also sparked conversations about the dangers of drug use and the challenges of healing from trauma in a close-knit community.
