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In April , the television news program " 60 Minutes " air a report about fentanyl , a celluloid opioid much more strong than heroin that ’s been implicated in thousands of overdose end in the United States . During one segment , Justin Herdman , a U.S. Attorney in Cleveland , wore gloves as he showed journalist Scott Pelley seized bags of fentanyl and carfentanyl ( also spell carfentanil ) , an even stronger analogue of the drug , in their powder variant .
" So if you touch this poppycock , it could pop you ? " Pelley asked . Herdman replied , yes .
A bag of confiscated fentanyl
" There ’s a understanding we have a medic standing by , Scott , and that ’s because an overdose is — unfortunately it ’s something that we have to be prepared for , even grapple with it in an grounds bag , " Herdman say . [ How Does Anesthesia Work ? ]
Fentanyl is highly potent , but to experts in the aesculapian community , the segment was a ill-conceived claim about the danger of simply being in the same elbow room the drug .
Dr. Ryan Marino , a toxicology fellow who specializes in emergency medicinal drug at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , of late started using the hashtag#WTFentanylto call out such news program story that advertise fentanyl myths .
A bag of confiscated fentanyl
" I just hope that people can use a little more decisive intellection , " Marino tell Live Science .
Despite occasional newsstoriesaboutpolice officersand other first responder experiencing ill effects or needing Narcan , an opioid antidote , after exposure to fentanyl , Marino said he does n’t recognise of any verified aesculapian case of a first answerer testing positivist for fentanyl through mere hide contact or being in the locality of the drug . And overdose in such a scenario seems highly unconvincing ground on what investigator know about fentanyl and other opioids , he said .
In itsguide for emergency responders , the American College of Medical Toxicology ( ACMT ) and American Academy of Clinical Toxicology ( AACT ) say that for opioid toxicity to occur , " the drug must enter the rip and brain from the environment . " For this to occur , the drug would call for to be absorbed by a mucose tissue layer ( such as the rhinal passage ) , inhaled , ingested or fork up by a syringe . Fentanyl can also enter a person ’s organization therapeutically through cutaneal patches , but it pick out several hours to soak up .
" [ B]ased on our current understanding of the absorption of fentanyl and its analog , it is very unconvincing that small , unintentional cutis photograph to tablets or pulverisation would cause significant opioid perniciousness , and if perniciousness were to occur , it would not develop speedily , allow time for removal , " the usher say .
Fentanyl also is n’t fickle , meaning it does n’t promptly vaporize or get into the airwave if undisturbed . In an extreme context in 2002 , when Russian authorities used an aerosol suspected to comprise carfentanyl and remifentanil — a light - act synthetic opioid — to subdue hostage - takers of a Moscow theater ; more than 100 the great unwashed were killed due to exposure to this accelerator . However , the AACT / AACT guide also notes , an " optimized airborne dissemination machine is unlikely to be encountered in a local upshot . "
In a December 2018 clause in the health news publicationSTAT , aesculapian toxicologist Drs . Lewis Nelson and Jeanmarie Perrone , noted that forthwith observe that 2002 incident , recoverer wearing limited or no protective equipment carry the dupe from the theater , but were n’t affected by the opiods . " Passive toxicity make up even less sense in conventional drug - use preferences where other individuals are present and unaffected , " Nelson and Perrone wrote .
Marino said he thinks myth about fentanyl peril are harmful in three ways . First , misguided fear over the drug may further stigmatize drug exploiter , and prevent people who overdose from being revive or getting the attention they involve . There is agenuine opioid crisis , with rising death among drug users being impute to fentanyl ; overdose is a time - sensitive experimental condition , and delay treatment can be fatal .
secondly , first responders who start feel inauspicious at the aspect of an overdose or a drug call might not be get appropriate caution and support . " I do n’t want to say that the symptoms that they ’re having are n’t real , " Marino said , but often " the symptoms do not match up " with overdose and it ’s possible that they ’re instead know " nocebo " effects ( the disconfirming vis-a-vis of the placebo upshot ) or panic attacks . ( The symptoms of opioid toxicity are slowed breathing , decreased cognizance and very small school-age child . )
Third , myths about illicit fentanyl might produce unneeded care about thelegitimate usesof the drug . Fentanyl is commonly administered in hospitals to alleviate extreme pain in the neck for people with broken bones , for good example , Marino enunciate . The drug is handled oft by pharmacists , surgeons , nurses and anesthesiologists without the minus , passive side - effects that are being reported in these news stories .
In aguidethat Marino made for first answerer , he wrote that proper precaution , such as wearing baseball mitt and washing any cutis bring out to fentanyl with water ( not with alcohol - base hand sanitizers , which could increase preoccupancy ) can facilitate to protect them from exposure to the drug . If desired , wear out a N95 masquerade party in situations where there is utmost air movement can also reduce the risk of exposure , he tell .
Originally published onLive Science .
