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The “fentanyl craze” is far from being limited just to the US

The “fentanyl craze” is far from being limited just to the US
3
Coffee Beans 10.07.2025 
Prof. RNDr. Aleš Macela, DrSc.

The synthetic opioid fentanyl is increasingly entangled in a web of misinformation, disinformation, and false narratives circulating on social media, in the mainstream media, and even on some popular television shows. These are based on the false claim that individuals can overdose simply by accidentally touching the drug. Although the number of fentanyl-related deaths has tragically increased in recent years, none of these deaths have been attributed to a mere touch or accidental inhalation of the drug. Overdoses primarily occur through the ingestion of illegal pills or powder containing fentanyl, which are often unknowingly consumed by people using other drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, to which this powerful opioid has been added [1].

The myth about the deadly danger of simply touching fentanyl dates back to 2016, when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) produced a video stating that “exposure to an amount (of fentanyl) equivalent to a few grains of sand can kill you.” This video was distributed to police departments across the United States. However, it was subsequently deleted from the US DEA website. In addition, an accompanying press release was published, claiming that “simply touching fentanyl or accidentally inhaling the substance during an intervention can lead to absorption of fentanyl through the skin.” The misleading official report led police officers to believe that any contact with fentanyl was a matter of life and death [2]. As a result of this official misinformation campaign, frightening stories about police officers “overdosing” from mere contact with fentanyl went viral and spread through social media [2].

Studies examining false narratives and misinformation subsequently analyzed information about fentanyl in the mainstream media and categorized it as either misinformation or accurate, fact-based narratives. A surprising 92 percent of these articles contained (promoted) misinformation. In addition, articles containing misinformation reached nearly 70 million Facebook users and were shared ten times more often than articles providing accurate information or correcting false narratives. These reached only about 6 percent of Facebook users [3].

In another study, Media Cloud was used to collect and characterize mainstream media and social media content published between January 2015 and September 2019 regarding the risk of overdose from routine exposure to fentanyl. Relevant content appeared in 551 news articles from 48 states. Disinformation media reports were shared approximately 450,000 times on Facebook, potentially reaching nearly 70,000,000 users between 2015 and 2019. Furthermore, misinformation amplified by erroneous government statements gained 15 times more “visibility” on social media compared to messages with corrective content. These accounted for less than 30,000 shares, with a potential reach of 4.6 million users on Facebook [4].

The fentanyl issue also entered the political arena. During last year’s US election campaign, disinformation about fentanyl and migration was spread to put pressure on the government to adopt stricter anti-immigration policies. At the time, presidential candidate Donald Trump and vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance both repeatedly claimed that illegal immigrants were responsible for the influx of fentanyl into the US. A 2022 survey conducted by NPR/Ipsos (NPR is an American non-profit media organization founded in 1970 by an act of Congress) found that nearly 4 in 10 Americans believe that most of the fentanyl entering the US is smuggled by unauthorized migrants who cross the border illegally [5]. These claims are misleading and not new. In fact, federal data analyzed by the KFF Health Tracking Poll (formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation) suggests that most fentanyl enters the US through legal entry points and is smuggled primarily by US citizens, not migrants [6].

To avoid focusing solely on the United States, it should be noted that the problem of fentanyl abuse also affects the Czech Republic. A 2023 report on the activities of the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office points out that in 2022, there was a sharp increase in the number of victims as a result of drug use [7]. Former Supreme Public Prosecutor Igor Stříž points out that this is mainly due to fentanyl, which is applied to the skin in patches, and the fact that it is challenging to estimate the amount that a person ingests. This is what makes fentanyl so dangerous [8].

In addition, on June 26, 2025, a report appeared in the main news broadcast that the number of fentanyl users in the Czech Republic is increasing, with one gram capable of killing up to 500 people (the lethal dose is close to 2 mg). However, according to Igor Stříž, “in terms of drug-related crime, we do not reach the levels seen in port countries. Huge quantities of drugs flow through them, and only a minimal amount reaches us. It is certainly not difficult to obtain drugs in the Czech Republic, but I would not say that we are facing a drug epidemic,” says Stříž.

Why is this the case? There are several reasons, but it is important to note that “almost 90% of people who use illegal drugs in a risky manner are in contact with services aimed at minimizing risks, which helps to reduce the public health impact of illegal drug use on society. Conversely, only a very small proportion of people who struggle with harmful use of other addictive substances or are at risk use prevention and treatment programs,” [9]. According to official data, only about 4% of people who use alcohol in a risky manner, 3% of people at risk of gambling, and less than 0.5% of people who abuse psychoactive drugs or use digital technologies in a harmful manner seek addiction treatment services [9].

Fentanyl is not a new drug in the Czech Republic; it has been used in Czech medicine for decades as a very effective pain reliever. It is usually administered in the form of fentanyl patches, which have a relatively long-lasting effect and do not need to be changed every day. If the use of fentanyl through skin patches does not turn into abuse, then fentanyl can be considered a normal medication. Although it is easier to overdose on fentanyl than on heroin [10], fentanyl is not currently the strongest drug available in the Czech Republic. Two new synthetic drugs (nitazen and spirochlorphine) have appeared in Prague that are several times stronger than fentanyl. These substances can cause death even when inhaled in very small amounts. The police had to use special protective suits during a raid in a Prague apartment. Two people have already died from overdoses of these substances [11].

What does all this mean? Misinformation about fentanyl is a significant obstacle to effective prevention; fear and stigma are not effective tools in efforts to reduce drug use. A responsible and clear presentation of valid information based on scientific research must play its role; i.e., a strategy based on verified evidence with responsible presentation must be chosen. Accidental physical contact with fentanyl is therefore no more dangerous than walking on a sidewalk in downtown Prague. As already mentioned, the lethal dose is approximately two milligrams, which is a relatively large dose of the drug.

The damage that can be caused by misunderstanding clear information, its distortion, and its dissemination by the media can then lead to a wave of misinformation and subsequently to problems in managing drug issues, as in the case of fentanyl.

 

References

 

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