Multiple times this summer, I’ve been talking to people at conferences and was told some variation of, “Fentanyl is just so deadly. I mean, you can die just from getting it on your skin!” 

 

That’s terrifying…but also a myth.

 

Zach Siegel was recently the lead author of a report released by The Center for Just Journalism that examines the claims surrounding “fentanyl exposure.”

 

I think many of us have seen headlines about police officers or first responders experiencing symptoms of fentanyl exposure — or even overdosing — after touching the drug. But are these experiences actually the result of fentanyl? Or something else?

 

The report, called Fentanyl Exposure: Myths, Misconceptions, and the Media, not only debunks common misconceptions but also challenges us to consider how these beliefs shape public policy and personal safety. I found it incredibly interesting and wanted to share some key highlights with you.

 

The myth that touching fentanyl can be lethal originated from a 2016 video by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This video, which has since been removed from their website, claimed that mere contact with fentanyl could be deadly. This is simply not true.

 

Despite being debunked by medical experts, this narrative gained traction, heavily influenced by initial police endorsements and widespread media coverage without much scrutiny.

 

So, what are first responders really experiencing? 

 

Many first responders report symptoms like dizziness and rapid heartbeat, which they attribute to opioid overdose. However, medical experts suggest these are more consistent with panic attacks — induced by the fear of fentanyl, not by fentanyl itself. This phenomenon, known as the “nocebo effect,” occurs when the expectation of harm manifests physical symptoms.

 

“When police officers think they are overdosing and describe symptoms such as heavy breathing, a pounding heart, dizziness, and numbness, and being able to tell someone that they are overdosing, this is a sign that they are not describing an actual overdose. They are describing a panic attack.” — Hope Smiley-McDonald, research sociologist, director of RTI International Center for Forensic Science Advancement and Application

 

The belief that passive contact with fentanyl is deadly remains widespread, largely influenced by sensational media stories.

 

The report shared that out of 326 articles about fentanyl exposure published from 2018 to 2023, only 12 percent expressed ANY doubt regarding the danger of passive fentanyl exposure. They also found that 252 articles quoted the police, and only 35 cited actual medical experts.

 

This lack of skepticism has allowed the myth to persist unchallenged. 

 

Yes, unregulated fentanyl being purchased by consumers on the illicit market IS responsible for tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year. It’s heartbreaking what’s happening because of the lack of quality control and accurate dosing from the underground market, but those deaths are a result of someone ingesting the drug in a way that enters their bloodstream — not from touching it.

 

The exaggerated fear of being in the presence of fentanyl can lead to delayed or inappropriate responses to actual overdoses, misallocation of resources and unnecessary stress among first responders.

 

If you want to learn more, I encourage you to read the full report. It’s written in plain language and can help all of us debunk the myth when we hear it, stopping the downstream harm that’s happening from a perceived risk that doesn’t exist.

 

In other news, our team was just at FreedomFest in Las Vegas having many conversations with people who haven’t considered the ideas we support.

 

My favorite was a man who spent a long time explaining to me why I was wrong, and then asked for a copy of Curious because he really wanted to learn more. Openmindedness is a beautiful thing! 

 

If you’d like to see some photos of the conference, check out the slideshow on our Facebook page!