TV Show Sparks Surge in Interest for Anti-Anxiety Drug Lorazepam. A recent study has found that searches for the prescription medication lorazepam surged after it was prominently featured in the third series of The White Lotus, an American TV show that explores the lives of wealthy vacationers at a luxurious resort.
Researchers analyzed data from Google to track changes in search patterns and discovered a significant spike in interest for lorazepam following the show's release. Over a 12-week period after the episode aired, searches for the medication increased by almost twice as much as would normally be expected, resulting in approximately 1.6 million additional searches.
The study highlights concerns about the potential misuse of prescription medications, particularly benzodiazepines like lorazepam, which can be purchased illicitly online without proper medical supervision. Experts warn that this can lead to overdoses and other serious health issues due to incorrect dosing or contamination with other substances.
While the show's portrayal of lorazepam use was not accompanied by warnings about its risks, researchers suggest that the entertainment industry could develop "best practice" approaches to depicting prescription medications in a way that encourages viewers to seek accurate information.
Harry Sumnall, a professor at Liverpool John Moores University, notes that while educating audiences through health panels or advice is beneficial, it may not be realistic for TV shows. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of enforcement action against illicit manufacturers and prescriber education to prevent over-prescribing and misuse of medications.
The study's findings underscore the need for responsible representation of prescription medications in media and greater awareness about the potential risks associated with their use.
Researchers analyzed data from Google to track changes in search patterns and discovered a significant spike in interest for lorazepam following the show's release. Over a 12-week period after the episode aired, searches for the medication increased by almost twice as much as would normally be expected, resulting in approximately 1.6 million additional searches.
The study highlights concerns about the potential misuse of prescription medications, particularly benzodiazepines like lorazepam, which can be purchased illicitly online without proper medical supervision. Experts warn that this can lead to overdoses and other serious health issues due to incorrect dosing or contamination with other substances.
While the show's portrayal of lorazepam use was not accompanied by warnings about its risks, researchers suggest that the entertainment industry could develop "best practice" approaches to depicting prescription medications in a way that encourages viewers to seek accurate information.
Harry Sumnall, a professor at Liverpool John Moores University, notes that while educating audiences through health panels or advice is beneficial, it may not be realistic for TV shows. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of enforcement action against illicit manufacturers and prescriber education to prevent over-prescribing and misuse of medications.
The study's findings underscore the need for responsible representation of prescription medications in media and greater awareness about the potential risks associated with their use.
Lorazepam usage is on the rise after The White Lotus 
... not surprising tbh 
. We've seen this before, like when OxyContin was all the rage a few years back 
. The thing is, shows like this can actually be kinda good for raising awareness about meds that are sometimes misused 
. But we need to talk more about enforcement and education instead of just relying on TV shows to do our thinking for us 
.
! I mean, who knew a TV show could spark so many searches for lorazepam? 
.
. Anyway, I'm gonna make sure to fact-check any TV shows I watch from now on – you never know when a show might spark an interest in something! 
... but at the same time, I'm really worried that people are going to be inspired to try it out after watching it. It's like, no thanks, let's just show some warnings and risks instead of glamorizing it 
.
... or maybe I'm just getting too worked up about nothing 
. What do experts actually know best? Shouldn't they just leave it to the professionals to make these decisions 
?
. Like, didn't we already learn about the dangers of benzodiazepines in health class back in high school? 
. Anyway, it's good that we're talking about this stuff – maybe more shows will pick up on it in the future 
. and then there's the whole online black market thing... *shudders*
.