Fentanyl facts you should know, part 3: Keeping first responders safe
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EmailCorrecting misinformation about fentanyl is important to keep our communities safe. Learn about first responders' risk of overdosing in the field after potential fentanyl exposure.
This is part of a series covering myths about fentanyl. Read part one here, part two here, and part four here.
There are many different myths about fentanyl that get spread through media outlets, social media posts and word of mouth. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times as strong as morphine and used to treat severe pain in medical settings. While it is true that fentanyl can be very dangerous when used outside of a controlled medical setting and is responsible for most drug overdose deaths, there are many ways to protect yourself and others from fentanyl exposure properly. It is important that we address these myths, so our communities feel better prepared to address the opioid crisis together.
In part 3 of this article series, we will discuss myths around risk of fentanyl overdose for first responders. Part 1 of our series discussed two common myths about exposure and testing for fentanyl, part 2 debunked myths about Narcan/naloxone, and part 4 will provide an overview of where this misinformation has come from and why it spreads.
Myth #1: First responders frequently overdose after being exposed to fentanyl in the field.
Fact: There hasn’t been a single verified opioid overdose of first responders after responding to a scene with fentanyl present.
Researchers reviewed over 1,400 media reports published between 2012 and 2018 that referred to first responder opioid exposure in North America. They found that only 214 of these articles described the exposure experienced by the first responder, and of these 214 accounts, reviewers “did not find a single one that reported a plausible route of exposure, clinical manifestations consistent with exposure, and laboratory testing that confirmed exposure.”
In other words, none of these stories or media reports contained details that would be consistent with an actual opioid overdose event. Researchers also found that there were no cases of confirmed first responder incidental opioid overdoses in the scientific literature; every story comes from lay media reports.
Many of the media stories these researchers reviewed reported symptoms unrelated to opioid exposure. Some of the most commonly reported symptoms included rashes developing after someone handles fentanyl — even while wearing a mask and gloves — and heart problems. Opioids do not cause either of these symptoms to occur. Furthermore, none of these stories included any evidence that the people experiencing these effects were ever tested for opioid presence in their bloodstream after the fact.
What is causing these reactions?
First responders are experiencing the symptoms they report; however, they are not due to fentanyl exposure. Instead, experts believe these symptoms result from the “nocebo effect,” which is when symptoms occur because someone believes they will experience negative side effects following an exposure. First responders are already working in stressful conditions, and fear of overdosing from accidentally touching or inhaling fentanyl may be enough to trigger these reactions.
Although first responders are trained to respond to medical emergencies, upwards of 83% of first responders surveyed in one study believed they could (falsely) overdose by touching fentanyl. However, after just a ten-minute training session designed to correct these myths, over 80% of law enforcement officers and 90% of emergency medical services personnel were able to correct these false beliefs and improve their understanding of factual overdose risk related to fentanyl exposure. This finding provides hope that we can correct this false information and help keep first responders safe.
How you can help
You can play a role in helping our communities feel better prepared to address the opioid epidemic by correcting these false narratives when you see them. Before sharing a story, double-check the source of the information and read the full story. We discuss where this misinformation comes from and why it spreads in part 4 of this article series.
MSU Extension supports harm reduction
The Michigan Substance Use Prevention, Education, and Recovery (MiSUPER) team works to increase awareness of opioid use in rural communities regarding prevention, addiction treatment options, and recovery support so that community members and healthcare professionals can recognize signs of problematic opioid use, suggest options for professional treatments, and support those in recovery.
The MiSUPER team offers training and resources on opioid use disorder, harm reduction, and how policies, systems, and environments criminalize and punish people who use substances. As our work evolves in this space, please help us promote harm reduction strategies in your community by sharing this article and continuing to learn and educate others about harm reduction.
You can sign up and learn more about other health promotional programs offered by MSU Extension by visiting www.extension.msu.edu/healthprograms.
