This is how reel seeps into the real!Whether popular web series will be able to help you look inward and check the dysfunction within or not, it certainly can be trusted to trigger a spike in a new “disorder”: a new study has revealed a striking surge in Google searches for the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam following the release of Season 3 of HBO’s popular series The White Lotus.What happened?Read below.
The White Lotus effect
In a striking example of how television can shape real-world behavior, the recent University of California, San Diego study found that the release of The White Lotus Season 3 triggered a significant increase in Google searches for lorazepam, a potent benzodiazepine commonly prescribed for anxiety and insomnia. According to the study published in JAMA Health Forum, search interest was nearly 99% higher than expected over a 12-week stretch following the show’s February 16, 2025, release — amounting to about 1.6 million additional searches.
Strikingly, the spike was very specific to lorazepam. Searches for other popular benzodiazepines — like alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin) — stayed flat during the same period. The research team also tracked “acquisition-related” searches, such as “how to get lorazepam” online. These queries rose by nearly 64%, representing roughly 30,000 more searches than expected.
What is lorazepam?
Lorazepam, commonly known by the brand name Ativan, is a prescription medication belonging to the benzodiazepine class of drugs. It acts as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, i.e., it slows down activity in the brain and nervous system.Lorazepam is FDA-approved and widely used for the short-term treatment of several conditions, like anxiety disorders (including anxiety associated with depression), and insomnia (related to anxiety or temporary situational stress). It’s also used as a pre-medication before medical or dental procedures (like surgery) to relieve anxiety, induce sedation, and cause amnesia so the patient does not remember details of the procedure.
Why this surge is concerning
Medical experts say the trend is worrying because lorazepam comes with serious risks — especially when misused or taken without proper supervision.According to Dr. Kevin Yang, a psychiatrist at UC San Diego who co-led the study, the show The White Lotus portrayed lorazepam in a casual, even glamorous way, failing to show the major dangers. On screen, characters combine lorazepam with white wine, slur their words, and fall asleep — echoing risky real-life behavior.Yang warns that while lorazepam is clinically useful for short-term anxiety, the show glosses over serious risks like dependence, cognitive impairment, and dangerous withdrawal symptoms.However, this could be especially harmful because long-term benzodiazepine use is not harmless. In fact, prolonged or repeated use can lead to tolerance, dependence, and misuse. And stopping lorazepam suddenly can trigger withdrawal symptoms like panic attacks, agitation, or even seizures — risks the show did not care to highlight.
What makes lorazepam risky
Lorazepam is an FDA-approved prescription drug, and it can be beneficial, but only when used correctly. However, one should be careful about the risks that come with unsupervised consumption of the prescription drug:Habit-forming: While lorazepam is effective for short-term anxiety or panic attacks, it has a high risk of dependence if used regularly.Mixing with alcohol: In the show, characters combine lorazepam with white wine — a combination health experts strongly warn against. Combining lorazepam with alcohol is especially dangerous. Both depress the central nervous system, increasing the risk of sedation, respiratory depression, or even life-threatening effects.Withdrawal: If someone who has been using lorazepam stops suddenly, they may experience symptoms like headache, tremors, irritability, anxiety, and, in severe cases, seizures.Cognitive impairment: Over time, benzodiazepines can affect memory, concentration, and overall brain function — especially if misused.Obtaining it online: The surge in acquisition-related searches raises alarm about people trying to buy lorazepam from unregulated or illegal pharmacies, where the product may be fake, adulterated, or stronger than expected.
Why this matters
Life imitates art — in this case, real life is shaped by the content on reel we devour.This study shows just how powerful entertainment media can be in shaping health behaviors. But with great power, should come great responsibility as well.Lorazepam is an FDA-approved drug that is beneficial — but isn’t harmless when consumed without expert supervision. It carries real risks, especially when misused or taken long-term.For the audience, the takeaway is clear: don’t take depictions of drug use in TV shows at face value. “Take everything that is portrayed in the media … with a grain of salt,” says Dr. Yang, who co-led the study.If you’re curious about lorazepam or worried about anxiety, talk to a doctor or mental health professional — in this case, Google isn’t your best ally.