Here’s a shocking revelation: the hit TV show The White Lotus may have inadvertently sparked a surge in interest for a powerful anti-anxiety medication, raising serious concerns about public health. But here's where it gets controversial: could a fictional character’s reliance on lorazepam be influencing real-life behavior? Data reveals that searches for this drug skyrocketed after the show’s third season premiered, leaving experts worried about the unintended consequences of its portrayal. Let’s dive into the details.
In the latest season of The White Lotus, the character Victoria Ratliff, a privileged North Carolina housewife, is frequently shown popping lorazepam, a benzodiazepine (or “benzo”) sold under the brand name Ativan. This medication works by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that calms the brain. While the show’s depiction is dramatic, researchers at the University of California San Diego noticed something alarming: Google searches for lorazepam nearly doubled in the 12 weeks following the show’s release on February 16, 2025, compared to previous trends. That’s roughly 1.6 million additional searches, with a 64% spike in queries about how to obtain the drug—about 30,000 extra searches.
And this is the part most people miss: unlike lorazepam, searches for other benzodiazepines like alprazolam or clonazepam, which weren’t mentioned in the show, remained unchanged. This suggests a direct link between The White Lotus and the sudden interest in lorazepam. Dr. Olivia Maynard of the University of Bristol, who wasn’t involved in the study, called the findings “striking” and warned of the dangers lurking in the online market for these drugs. Many illicit benzodiazepines sold online are improperly dosed, inconsistently produced, or even laced with dangerous substances like nitazenes, a synthetic opioid that can cause fatal overdoses.
Published in JAMA Health Forum, the study highlights a troubling trend: the rise in online searches coincides with an increase in illegitimate pharmacies selling benzodiazepines without prescriptions. While it’s unclear whether people were merely researching lorazepam or actively purchasing it, the implications are unsettling. The show also failed to address the risks of abruptly stopping the medication, which can lead to panic attacks, agitation, and seizures, or the dangers of mixing it with alcohol, which can cause deep sleep, breathing difficulties, and even death.
The researchers argue that the entertainment industry should adopt ‘best practice’ guidelines for depicting prescription medications, possibly including health information panels to educate curious viewers. Harry Sumnall, a professor of substance use at Liverpool John Moores University, agrees that while on-screen warnings might not be practical, addressing the issue through stricter enforcement against illicit manufacturers and better prescriber education is crucial. But here’s the question: Should TV shows bear responsibility for how their content influences viewers’ health decisions, or is it up to regulators and healthcare providers to step in? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a debate worth having.
