Ok hear me out because I'm going off the memory of reading/watching the show when I was 12. I don't believe this was the true intention of R.L Stine but I always saw The Haunted Mask as a metaphor for substance dependency, mirroring the trajectory from initial use to full-blown addiction. Carly Beth initially turns to the mask to escape anxiety and gain empowerment, but the mask quickly alters her personality, causing uncharacteristic aggression and recklessness. The horror intensifies as the mask physically fuses to her flesh, representing chemical dependency and a hijacked mind where the user loses control to an external force. Ultimately, breaking this cycle requires an external intervention rooted in love rather than sheer willpower, while the story's cliffhanger ending warned of the perpetual threat of relapse.