Fentanyl Exposure Resources

The topic of passive fentanyl exposure by emergency/first responders and others continues to make headlines. The ACMT Communications team receives frequent requests for expert knowledge by Medical Toxicologists. This page provides several resources.

If you are a member of the media and would like to request contact with one of our experts please fill out this request form.

In 2017, the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) and the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT) released this joint statement “Preventing Occupational Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analog Exposure to Emergency Responders.” This statement, also published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology and the NIH National Library of Medicine, outlines the low risk of passive fentanyl exposure for emergency workers along with recommendations.

ACMT ToxIC Project Data

Selected Media Articles Featuring ACMT Medical Toxicologists:

What is fentanyl? The Washington Post, May 2019
Consult from Andrew Stolbach, MD, FACMT
Can Touching Fentanyl Really Kill You? Live Science, May 2019
‘Fear, Loathing and Fentanyl Exposure’ an April 2019 New York Times editorial references ACMT’s position, “In 2017, the nation’s two leading toxicological societies published a joint statement explaining that for emergency medical workers, the risk of accidental opioid ingestion is “extremely low.” Gloves almost always provide enough protection; masks are necessary only in exceptional cases.”
‘Cops say touching fentanyl is making them sick. Doctors say it’s impossible.‘ Detroit Free Press, April 2019
‘Debunking the Myth in Milwaukee: Can People Overdose by Touching Fentanyl’ Digital Journal, April 2019
‘A dangerous fentanyl myth lives on’ Columbia Journalism Review, April 2019
‘Touching fentanyl will not cause an overdose’ Legal Reader, April 2019
‘You can’t overdose on fentanyl by touching it’ Vox, March 2019
‘‘Passive’ fentanyl exposure: more myth than reality’ STAT, December 2018, written by ACMT members Lewis Nelson and Jeanmarie Perrone