Executive order sparks discussion about barriers to drug treatment
Myths reemerged about fentanyl overdoses through touch, and conversations about declining overdose deaths continued.
Myths reemerged about fentanyl overdoses through touch, and conversations about declining overdose deaths continued.
A recent executive order aiming to improve access to substance use disorder treatment sparked online conversation about treatment barriers. Meanwhile, a video of a police officer allegedly experiencing an accidental overdose revived the myth that you can overdose on fentanyl by touching it, and other posts linked declining overdose deaths to naloxone.
In response, communicators may share information about SUD treatment, explain how overdoses happen, and highlight overdose prevention tools.
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What’s trending nationally in conversations about substance use
On January 29, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aiming to increase awareness about substance use disorder and improve access to SUD prevention and treatment. Social media users across platforms responded to the news, with some posts receiving thousands of views. Many commenters celebrated the executive order and asked for more details on the initiatives it would support. Some shared personal stories about facing financial barriers to SUD treatment.
On January 17, a YouTube user shared a video of a police officer administering naloxone to another officer who collapsed after allegedly touching a dollar bill that had fentanyl on it. The video garnered more than 4 million views and 4,000 comments as of February 3. While many commenters expressed concern for the officer, others suggested that she was having a panic attack since you cannot overdose on fentanyl by touching it.
In late January, articles and social media posts discussed a decline in U.S. overdose deaths, new CDC data showing that U.S. life expectancy has hit an all-time high, and a recent JAMA study noting the regional differences in overdose deaths. Commenters highlighted contributing factors to the national decline in overdose deaths, such as the availability of naloxone, while others debated which political leaders, if any, could take credit for the decline.
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Recommendations for public health professionals
The Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. These helpful tips can be used when creating content, updating web and FAQ pages, and developing strategy for messaging about substance use.
Given discussions about financial barriers to SUD treatment, messaging may explain that most health insurance plans—including Medicaid—cover some forms of drug treatment. Communicators may also want to share free local recovery groups, harm reduction programs that connect people to treatment when they’re ready, and SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP).
Videos of police officers allegedly experiencing an accidental overdose frequently revive the myth that touching fentanyl can cause an overdose. Communicators may continue to stress that you cannot overdose on fentanyl by touching it. The circulating video also provides an opportunity to explain that while naloxone will only be effective against an opioid overdose, it will not harm someone who is not overdosing or is overdosing on a different substance. Additional messaging may explain that fentanyl patches used in medical settings—which are specifically formulated to slowly release fentanyl through the skin—are different from the fentanyl found in the illicit drug supply.
Conversations about declining overdose deaths are persistent, providing a chance for additional messaging about the effectiveness of naloxone and other harm reduction tools. Ongoing messaging may reiterate that experts attribute the decline to the availability of naloxone, a medication that anyone can use to reverse an opioid overdose. Communicators may outline the signs of an opioid overdose and explain that anyone can purchase naloxone without a prescription, including at pharmacies, grocery stores, and other popular retailers. Highlighting local harm reduction programs that offer free naloxone and training is also recommended. Messaging may include information about fentanyl test strips, which help people determine whether their drugs contain fentanyl so they can make educated decisions about drug use. However, they are not legal everywhere, so ensuring that any messaging reflects your state’s drug checking equipment laws is recommended.