John Oliver Calls Out ‘Completely Absurd’ Claims About Fentanyl Danger to Police Officers (Video)
thewrap.comhere and above.“Because, for decades, we’ve been fighting a ‘War on Drugs’ that was often fueled by fear and misinformation, directly leading to bad policy,” Oliver noted.The host then called up a video from the San Diego police department, showing a deputy supposedly passing out after encountering fentanyl in a person’s car.
Scoring that video is a voiceover from the department, claiming the deputy “nearly died” as a result.“The idea that that officer could’ve been passively exposed to fentanyl and then overdose is completely absurd,” Oliver said.
To back up his point, the host cited data from experts that says it’s virtually impossible for fentanyl to have such an effect without being directly ingested.Oliver then pulled up a list of similar headlines in other cities, claiming that officers are being put at risk simply by being exposed to the drug.“What those officers were much more likely experiencing were panic attacks,” Oliver said. “Which makes sense, because they’d just been exposed to something they’ve repeatedly heard is deadly to be anywhere near.”The “Last Week Tonight” host also called out how similar messaging is depicted in fictional TV shows, specifically pulling a clip of the CBS show “Blue Bloods,” from an episode in 2017.“That is complete horse s—,” Oliver declared.
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