“I fought very hard to keep him clean when he was alive, and losing him was really tough,” the showrunner told Entertainment Weekly in an interview published April 12. “I felt like if I couldn’t keep him alive in life, then, I could in the show.”

And in an additional statement shared with the outlet, Sam shared additional insight into how Angus’ passing “deeply affected” him.

“With addiction, you’re supposed to be prepared for the loss of someone struggling, but his death stirred an anger—not only for him, but for the many young lives in America cut short by fentanyl,” he wrote. “This season became my way to honor Angus and all the kids who weren’t offered a second chance. I wanted to tell a story where hope and light could still be felt in the darkness.”

In addition to the highly-anticipated release of Euphoria season 3, read on for more series premiering in the months ahead.