John Oliver took a deep dive into harm-reduction methods to forestall overdose deaths amongst drug customers and why such a lot of portions of the country haven’t embraced them.
It’s in part because of myths and misconceptions about each medication and drug customers, together with the conclusion that even being close to fentanyl is unhealthy for police and different first responders.
On Sunday’s “Final Week This night,” Oliver performed pictures of a San Diego deputy supposedly passing out after discovering the drug in a automotive, at the side of a sheriff’s division voiceover claiming he “just about died” in consequence.
“The concept that that officer may just’ve been passively uncovered to fentanyl after which overdose is totally absurd,” Oliver mentioned, declaring that professionals say it’s nearly unattainable for it to have that impact.
Oliver mentioned police departments around the nation have made an identical claims.
“What the ones officials have been a lot more most likely experiencing have been panic assaults,” Oliver mentioned. “Which is smart, as a result of they’d simply been uncovered to one thing they’ve again and again heard is fatal to be anyplace close to.”
It’s even transform a trope in TV presentations, together with the hit CBS cop program “Blue Bloods.”
“This is whole horse shit,” Oliver declared.
“It’s deeply irresponsible of police to stay perpetuating a clinical impossibility and for media shops to stay amplifying it,” he added.
Doing so will purpose other folks to worry serving to the ones in want, he identified. And they’ll oppose different measures, together with harm-reduction methods.
Watch the whole phase on “Final Week This night” right here: