During a March 14 press conference, a reporter accidentally hit President Donald Trump in the face with a boom microphone. The host of a popular online conspiracy theory show released a video claiming without evidence that the incident was an attempt to harm the president by exposing him to a toxic substance like ricin or fentanyl. In a social media post, the host said the president would be dead now “if there had been even a grain of fentanyl on that microphone.” Comments on the posts repeated the myth that incidental exposure to small amounts of fentanyl can cause an overdose.
Recommendation
False claims frequently circulate that fentanyl overdoses can occur through skin contact or by accidentally inhaling a small amount. Debunking messaging may emphasize that while fentanyl is a potent opioid involved in most U.S. overdose deaths, you cannot overdose on it by touching it or by accidentally breathing in a small amount. Talking points may explain that people who use drugs are at risk of fentanyl overdose because it can impair breathing and is often unknowingly mixed with a variety of other drugs.
Fact-checking sources: CBS News, Public Good News
