Just wanted to bring up something that was discussed earlier on these threads for HD. The mom, BO, stated in one of her first "TV appearances" that right away she and SA offered to take a poly, but they told them to wait because they both had taken "Ativan" to help them sleep. Again, this was discussed by a few on these threads, the possible effects from this drug. This is all my own point of view on this particular subject.
When I went through my divorce a doctor did prescribe "Ativan" for me. My daughter was only 2 years old at the time. My mom worked the second shift at the time and we were staying with her. It is very hard for me to admit this, but my mother came home from work one night and she said I was zonked out in a recliner and my daughter was trying to show me something and I bearly responded. This was with a very small dose of this powerful drug. This was 31 years ago and it still hurts me to think what could have happened when I took that drug to "get by during the divorce which was really nasty". I now realize that it was acting exactly like a "date rape drug" in my system. If I took one 0.5 mg tablet, it absolutely wiped out my entire memory for the next 6-8 hours. I mean if I had cleaned the house and put anything away during that time, it was lost for a good while because I absolutely could not recall where I put it. (Just trying to give an example how Ativan can wipe out someone's memory). I trusted the doctor that prescribed this and was taking it exactly as he had prescribed it. He knew I had a small child at home, yet, he saw how distraught I was and thought it was okay to give it to me. I would not take this again if someone tried to "poke it down my throat". I now have a 2-year-old granddaughter and when I look at her, I sometimes want to cry, again, thinking about how my mom came home that night and my little baby girl was there with me in that state.
So, I do think it can be safely taken with some individuals but it sure does not work in some people the way it was intended. If BD had taken this, it would be interesting to know if she had been on it prior to HD's disappearance. If she had, then it is understandable to me she could not recall the facts that LE needs from her. All of this is just for me to say how this powerful drug wiped out my memory and I am not saying that I know for sure BD was on it, but I did see her state the drug as Ativan and they both had taken it to help them sleep.
Sometimes doctors are trying to help people get through a difficult situation and to me, I wish I had just tried to make it on my own somehow, although I was almost a zombie just from what was happening to me and my child back then even without any "nerve medicine".