From countering myths and misperceptions to stifling stigmas, health experts say a major part of battling a relentless overdose crisis, driven in large part by fentanyl, involves making sure the right messages are getting across.

With fentanyl slipping evermore present into the illicit drug market, it is a major driver in a skyrocketing number of fatal overdoses in the province. Marcus Lem, B.C. CDC senior medical advisor on opioids, addictions and overdoses, said going from a little-known medical tool to one of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 greatest demons can affect the public perception.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fear and concern regarding exposure to fentanyl, but a lot of these fears and concerns are overblown, and thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of inaccurate information out there,B次元官网网址� Lem said, noting in particular fears of first responders overdosing from contact with an overdose victim.

B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 really have any verified accounts of these. First of all, we know that for reversals of the overdoses, using naloxone, there are tens of thousands of resuscitations have happened B次元官网网址� and we never had one single verified account of somebody overdosing from coming in contact with an overdose victim.B次元官网网址�

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With so many deaths resulting from fentanyl in all social stratas, Lem said fear is driving the spread of misinformation, adding that thereB次元官网网址檚 a B次元官网网址渓ack of good informationB次元官网网址� accessible to the public.

B次元官网网址淐onsequently, although at B.C. CDC and other public health organizations, weB次元官网网址檙e doing our best to try and change that, in the absence of that, often the vacuum is filled with misinformation,B次元官网网址� Lem said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to put out some of the basic messaging.B次元官网网址�

That messaging is four major points that the CDC is trying to drive home: Street grade fentanyl does not become airborne, fentanyl is not easily absorbed through the skin, there have been no cases of overdose in health-care workers, first responders or citizens responding to an overdose victim in thousands of resuscitations B.C.-wide and there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been any evidence of fentanyl in illicit marijuana. Despite many claims of fentanyl-laced marijuana, the RCMP have said they have never siezed any.

Lem said while thereB次元官网网址檚 little risk in resuscitating an overdose victim, thereB次元官网网址檚 a major risk incurred by the proliferation of myths involving first responders overdosing through skin contact or airborne fentanyl.

B次元官网网址淭he big danger of this misinformation is fear will lead people to not provide life-saving care to folks, which include artificial respiration or breaths and naloxone,B次元官网网址� Lem said.

By extension, Lem said further damage can be done when society stigmatizes overdose victims.

B次元官网网址淚n some ways we make the folks who are overdosing, essentially we make them untouchable. We make them a class of people that, B次元官网网址榥o, you canB次元官网网址檛 touch that person,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Lem said. B次元官网网址淚s there anything more stigmatizing than saying they are untouchable?B次元官网网址�

Even those who are aware of the limitations to fentanylB次元官网网址檚 potent danger can be hesitant to let go of the fear that might drive people away from aiding a downed drug user. But Lem said ultimately knowledge does lead to better practices.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of it has to do with fear and fear of the unknown and also with social stigma. But, as with all things, the more you know about it, the less fearful you need to be,B次元官网网址� Lem said. B次元官网网址淚t allows you to take proper precautions and know what the proper precautions would be.B次元官网网址�

As per the old adage, B次元官网网址渋f it bleeds, it leads,B次元官网网址� Lem said it can be an uphill battle to combat the false, overtly negative messages out in the public, especially when institutions like the B.C. CDC are involved in warning of the drugB次元官网网址檚 fatal dangers.

B次元官网网址淭hings that are sensational always grab peopleB次元官网网址檚 attention more than things which calm folks down.B次元官网网址�

Lem said he is seeing some fact checking in the media, with experts coming out to debunk some of the myths surrounding fentanyl.

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Lem suggests media consumers watch out for stories without medical verification or medical expert analysis.

B次元官网网址淚n the end, truthfully, for a layperson reading a news story, itB次元官网网址檚 very, very difficult to tell. When you read something on the internet, it could seem perfectly plausible,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou have to be an expert, in some cases, to know whatB次元官网网址檚 plausible and whatB次元官网网址檚 not plausible.

B次元官网网址淯sually the first thing I would say is getting it from a reputable source, but with whatB次元官网网址檚 going on nowadays, even that may be kind of suspect.B次元官网网址�

Further to that, Lem suggests journalists go to reputable sources to verify information they have received.