The character, a mother played by Parker Posey, takes medication prescribed to treat social anxiety and insomnia, often in combination with white wine, which causes her to behave visibly strangely, speak in a slurred manner and fall asleep during dinner.
A study conducted by the University of California (USA) and published in the JAMA Health Forum analyzed Internet searches for the drug that coincided with the airing of the series.
“It’s a really interesting phenomenon how entertainment media can reflect and influence human behavior,” said Kevin Yang, from the University of California, San Diego, one of the authors of the article.
The researchers indicate that increased interest was not observed for other commonly prescribed benzodiazepines that were not mentioned in the series.
The team also noted a significant increase in searches related to purchasing lorazepam, which, according to another author, Eric Leas, “shows that there may be a group of people who really want to find out how to get this medication online.”
Throughout the season, Victoria Ratliff offers the medication to her husband, Timothy, who ends up stealing the pills and developing a dependence on the drug in the midst of a personal financial crisis.
Not only was he taking the medication, he was also combining it with alcohol, “which we know is very dangerous,” highlighted Yang, who noted that for the treatment of anxiety, lorazepam “is generally prescribed for short-term use, as prolonged use can lead to tolerance and dependence, as well as misuse.”
Studies have shown that almost one in five people who receive a prescription for benzodiazepines “ends up misusing them”, said Yang, cited in a statement from the University of California.
According to the researcher, the series emphasized the benefits of using lorazepam and not the potential risks, “such as dependence, respiratory depression and cognitive impairment”.
In fact, it “did not show any of the adverse effects that can result from excessive use or abrupt discontinuation.”
The entertainment industry and program producers should consider the potential impact that drug use can have on viewers’ behavior, the researcher noted.
Therefore, he recommended that they develop good practices in relation to this type of content, for example, including warnings at the beginning and end of each episode.
Furthermore, it suggested that internet search engines provide informative notices when people search for how to obtain the medicine ‘online’, focusing on accurate, evidence-based information as well as supporting resources.
As for viewers, Yang encouraged them to take a “skeptical approach” when looking for information online.
His “suggestion” would be to approach everything shown in the media, whether on television, in cinema or in music, with caution, as only one aspect of medication is taught.
Yang also recalled that, “at the end of the day, for issues like medication, it’s important to talk to your doctor.”
