White Lotus Season 3 Led To Surge of Curiosity in Anxiousness Drug

[ad_1] A storyline in season three of The White Lotus seems to have sparked a surge in public curiosity within the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam, in keeping with new analysis from the College of California San Diego.

Within the present, the character Victoria Ratliff casually takes lorazepam to handle social anxiousness and sleep issues, typically mixing the benzodiazepine with white wine. Her use results in moments of slurred speech, drowsiness and even falling asleep at dinner—a portrayal that researchers say might have had real-world penalties.

The researchers discovered that the sequence was linked to 1.6 million extra Google searches about lorazepam over a 12-week interval than would usually be anticipated. This spike didn't happen for different benzodiazepines—corresponding to alprazolam or clonazepam—which aren't talked about within the present.

Lead creator Dr. Kevin Yang stated that the development highlights the affect of leisure: “It is a actually fascinating phenomenon of how leisure media can actually replicate and drive human conduct.”

Newsweek has reached out to The White Lotus's manufacturing firm, Warner Brothers Discovery, for remark.

<img id="11058359" alt="" caption="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 16: Parker Posey from "The White Lotus" attends the TV Academy's Inaugural Televerse Festival at JW Marriott LA Live on August 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California." credit="Matt Winkelmeyer" sourcealt="Getty Images" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="3000" height="2000" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Copy-of-32-image-58-2.png?w=640&quality=75&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Copy-of-32-image-58-2.png?w=750&quality=75&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Copy-of-32-image-58-2.png?w=1000&quality=75&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Copy-of-32-image-58-2.png?w=1200&quality=75&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Copy-of-32-image-58-2.png?w=1360&quality=75&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Copy-of-32-image-58-2.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Copy-of-32-image-58-2.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1"/> “We noticed important will increase in searches associated to buying lorazepam as effectively," stated paper creator and UCSD international well being researcher professor Eric Leas in an announcement. "It reveals that there is perhaps a subset of individuals which might be truly wanting to determine how one can receive that remedy on-line.”

The present additionally depicted Ratliff providing her remedy to her husband Timothy, who later steals her tablets and turns into depending on the drug throughout a monetary disaster. Yang famous that Timothy’s behaviour displays dangerous patterns. He stated, “Not solely would he take it, however he would additionally mix it with alcohol, which we all know may be very harmful.”

Yang defined that lorazepam ought to usually be prescribed just for short-term use due to the danger of tolerance, dependence and misuse. He added, “Research have proven that just about one in 5 people who find themselves prescribed benzodiazepines finally find yourself misusing them.”

Nonetheless, the researchers stated the present centered extra on the drug’s perceived advantages than its dangers. In line with Yang, “It did not actually painting any of the hostile results that may come from taking an excessive amount of or from stopping it impulsively.”

Yang recommended that the leisure trade think about warnings for viewers when that includes drug use and that search engines like google and yahoo present evidence-based info when individuals search for how one can receive such medicines. He suggested viewers to stay cautious when on the lookout for info on-line.

He stated: “My suggestion could be to take every thing that's portrayed within the media, whether or not that is on TV, movie or in music, with a grain of salt. It is solely exhibiting one facet of the remedy, and that there are potential downsides. However finally, for issues like medicines, it is vital to speak together with your physician.”

Do you may have a tip on a well being story that Newsweek needs to be masking? Do you may have a query about lorazepam? Tell us through well being@newsweek.com.

Reference Yang, Ok. H., Satybaldiyeva, N., Kepner, W., Friedman, J., & Leas, E. C. (2025). Web Searches for Lorazepam Following the Launch of The White Lotus. JAMA Well being Discussion board, 6(11).