Lisa Rinna Alleges She Was Drugged With Fentanyl at 'Traitors' Party: What Happens When It Hits the Bloodstream

Lisa Rinna says she found fentanyl in her system after attending a The Traitors Season 4 premiere party, which was held on 8 January this year. The event was held at The Abbey nightclub in West Hollywood.

During her appearance in a recent interview for her book promotional tours, Rinna alleged she was drugged, citing medical test results that she says showed fentanyl and high levels of amphetamines in her system.

What Rinna Said Happened

Rinna addressed the incident during a 26 February appearance on Good Day New York, where she was promoting her memoir. She told hosts that she had fentanyl in her system and elevated amphetamines following the party.

'I had fentanyl in my system,' she said during the segment, adding that she could not discuss many details because her team was 'still dealing with it.'

Rinna pushed back on suggestions that alcohol caused her condition, saying she had not consumed enough to explain the level of impairment she experienced. She also stated that acquaintances, including friends of her daughters, had experienced similar alleged incidents at the same venue in past years.

Her co-star Colton Underwood reportedly noticed she appeared heavily impaired and alerted her team. Her husband, Harry Hamlin, helped her leave the party.

However, no toxicology report has been made public by Rinna or her team.

What Is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is significantly more potent than morphine. It is approved for medical use to treat severe pain, often in hospital settings. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl has also contributed to rising overdose deaths in the United States.

According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl acts quickly once it enters the bloodstream, binding to opioid receptors in the brain that control pain and breathing.

Health authorities note that even very small amounts can cause serious harm, particularly in individuals without opioid tolerance.

What Happens When Fentanyl Enters the Bloodstream?

Medical experts say fentanyl crosses the blood-brain barrier rapidly. Depending on the dose and method of exposure, effects can begin within minutes.

Common short-term effects listed by the DEA and CDC include reactions like drowsiness, sedation, confusion or dizziness. Some can also experience nausea and vomiting.

Meanwhile, respiratory depression — slowed or stopped breathing — is the most serious risk. Overdose symptoms may include unconsciousness, bluish lips or fingernails due to lack of oxygen, and in severe cases, death.

Health Canada has stated that life-threatening respiratory effects can occur within minutes of exposure. Medical toxicologists have also clarified that casual skin contact with fentanyl does not typically cause overdose; significant exposure is required for systemic absorption.

Fentanyl in Other High-Profile Cases

Rinna did not report being hospitalised overnight, and no official medical statement has been released describing the severity of her symptoms.

In recent years, several high-profile overdose deaths, including those of Mac Miller and Angus Cloud, involved fentanyl-laced drugs. However, those cases were ruled accidental overdoses and did not involve allegations of drink tampering at public events.

Rinna's allegation differs in that she says the exposure was non-consensual and occurred at a public venue. Meanwhile, The Abbey, where the alleged incident took place, maintains that it found no evidence of wrongdoing after reviewing the situation.