Dr. Goodman-Meza: You cannot overdose on fentanyl just by touching it.
The truth is that fentanyl we find on the street, either in pill or powder form, cannot be absorbed through the skin to cause an overdose. This is misinformation that has been debunked by leading organizations such as the American College of Medical Toxicology. Some people use the fact that fentanyl patches are used to deliver fentanyl to cancer patients as proof that exposure to fentanyl through the skin is possible. And that is completely true. However, these patches are specifically designed for this purpose and are only able to deliver small amounts of fentanyl over 72 hours.
Our first responders, police officers, firefighters and EMTs are so important in saving lives. This myth just causes unnecessary panic and fear in our first responders. But the reality is that you cannot overdose from touching fentanyl. If an overdose occurs after consuming fentanyl another way, call 911, administer naloxone, do rescue breathing, start CPR and chest compressions if needed. But the reality again is that you just cannot overdose by touching fentanyl.
About Dr. Goodman-Meza: Dr. David Goodman-Meza is a Mexican-American physician and scientist focused on the intersection of infectious diseases and addiction. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Addiction Medicine. Over his career, he has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications along topics related to substance use disorders and infectious diseases.
English 
Spanish