TV Show Sparks Surge in Drug Searches: What's the Deal?

Key Findings

• Significant Increase in Searches: After the release of the third season of The White Lotus, online searches for lorazepam (a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety) skyrocketed.
• Data Analysis: Researchers at the University of California San Diego analyzed Google search trends from January 2022 to February 2025.
• Search Spike: Searches for lorazepam remained steady until the show's premiere on February 16, 2025, after which they doubled and stayed high for 12 weeks.
• Additional Searches:
• 1.6 million extra searches for lorazepam.
• 64% increase in searches about how to obtain lorazepam (~30,000 extra searches).

Expert Concerns

• Influence of Media: The study suggests that the mention of lorazepam in The White Lotus directly led to the surge in searches.
• Risks of Illicit Drugs:
• Dr. Olivia Maynard (University of Bristol) warns that the show's portrayal may encourage people to buy benzodiazepines online.
• Illicit drugs may contain incorrect dosages or dangerous substances like nitazenes (a synthetic opioid linked to overdoses).
• Misrepresentation of Risks:
• The show did not highlight the dangers of suddenly stopping lorazepam (can cause panic attacks, agitation, seizures).
• It also did not address the risks of mixing alcohol with benzodiazepines (can lead to severe breathing problems).

Proposed Solutions

• Entertainment Industry Guidelines:
• Researchers suggest best practices for portraying prescription drugs in TV shows.
• Health information panels could be added to address viewer curiosity and provide accurate medical information.
• Alternative Perspectives:
• Professor Harry Sumnall (Liverpool John Moores University) acknowledges the challenges of incorporating health advice into entertainment.
• He emphasizes enforcement actions against illicit drug manufacturers and prescriber education to prevent over-prescribing.