The Role of Fear in Harm Reduction: Replication Package

Background: Misinformation about fentanyl exposure risks may affect first responders’ will-ingness to administer naloxone. This study examines its impact in New York State, focusing onbehavioral changes after a widely publicized event promoting the false belief that brief contactwith fentanyl is lethal.Methods This study examines quarterly naloxone administration data (2015–2019) in UpstateNew York, sourced from the New York State Department of Health. It categorizes adminis-trations by law enforcement, emergency medical services, and community programs. Using adifferences-in-differences quasi-experimental approach, it compares administration rate changesacross responder types before and after the misinformation event.Results Findings indicate a significant decline in naloxone administration by law enforcementofficers following the media event, suggesting increased hesitancy to render aid due to unfoundedfears of fentanyl exposure. No comparable decline is observed among harm reduction profession-als, highlighting the selective impact of misinformation on responder behavior.Conclusions These results underscore the potential adverse effects of misinformation on publichealth outcomes, particularly in emergency overdose response. The findings provide a new per-spective on the inconsistent empirical results regarding harm reduction policies and emphasizethe need for targeted education and training initiatives to counteract misinformation among firstresponders.