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Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and counterfeit pills, making it difficult to know if a drug contains fentanyl. Fentanyl test strips are a simple and effective way to detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs, allowing individuals to make informed decisions about drug use and reduce the risk of overdose.
- The options, detailed below, include receiving them from our division, from our online partner NEXT Distro, from pharmacies, or from any of our community partners.
- News articles about first responders overdosing from airborne fentanyl exposure is often the result of a panic attack.
- A fast, cheap test to see if street drugs contain fentanyl is gaining favor with researchers and drug outreach workers as a breakthrough in preventing overdoses and slowing the nation’s growing death toll from opioid abuse.
- Fentanyl is to blame for 146 deaths in Vermont since 2016, when it overtook heroin and prescription painkillers as the most deadly opioid in the state.
- No drug is completely safe and there is always a risk of overdose.
More than 30 years of evidence looking at providing sterile syringes to people who inject drugs shows people will use drugs, whether or not they have access to clean supplies. If they don’t have access to clean syringes, they may reuse or share needles, which increases their risk for HIV, hepatitis C and wounds. There’s no clear way to tell by sight, taste or smell that something has fentanyl. By testing their drugs, people can know what they’re taking and take steps to be safer, like getting Narcan.
Drug Overdose Deaths Remain High Fentanyl Test Strips May Help
What Are Fentanyl Test Strips?
Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs. They work by reacting to the presence of fentanyl in a sample of drug residue or powder. The test strip is dipped into a small amount of water that has been mixed with a sample of the drug, and the results are read within a few minutes. A positive result indicates the presence of fentanyl, while a negative result indicates that fentanyl is not present.
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This bill would make it clear that there is no federal prohibition on these strips and thereby promote greater access to these strips nationwide. Delaware expressly decriminalized fentanyl testing strips in 2021. Even though research has confirmed that fentanyl test strips are an accurate, low-cost, and relatively easy method of testing drugs for the presence of fentanyl, they aren’t always a 100% guarantee. Ideally, it’s best to use them every time you use, but it may not be realistic for everyone. Some states consider them drug paraphernalia (items you need to consume drugs).
Why Are Fentanyl Test Strips Important?
From March to June 2020, a total of 6 Massachusetts municipal police departments piloted FTS kit distribution during post–overdose outreach visits, community outreach, and related programming. The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative developed the kits, trained departments, and oversaw implementation. The pilot evaluation involved site observations, process measures, and interviews with staff and kit recipients. For every kit distributed, there was approximately 1 health or support service or referral provided; 320 kits were distributed. Key themes from interviews were conceptualizing FTS as a tool, collaborations, and adaptations. Police departments that partnered with community programs amplified project reach.
Fentanyl is a highly potent drug that can cause overdose and death even in small amounts. It is often mixed with other drugs without the user’s knowledge, making it difficult to know if a drug contains fentanyl. Fentanyl test strips can help individuals make informed decisions about drug use and reduce the risk of overdose by detecting the presence of fentanyl in drugs.
Ketamine Testing Kit
Where to Buy Fentanyl Test Strips
We’ve seen that with naloxone [used to treat overdose] and naloxone distribution. Counties that have greater access to naloxone have lower rates of overdose death, and that’s been shown here in Massachusetts. From May 2017 to mid-July 2017, the first 40 participants were instructed to use the FTS to test their urine (after drug use). We instructed participants in this first group to use the FTS in their urine in concordance with how the product is intended to be used [25, 45]. Participants recruited between mid-July 2017 and September 2017 were thus trained to test a drug sample or their drug residue (before consumption).
Where Can You Get Fentanyl Test Strips?
Fentanyl test strips are available from a variety of sources, including:
- Online retailers: Fentanyl test strips can be purchased online from a variety of retailers, including Amazon, eBay, and drug testing supply companies. It is important to ensure that the test strips are from a reputable source and have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Syringe exchange programs: Syringe exchange programs often provide fentanyl test strips as part of their services. These programs are designed to reduce the risk of HIV and hepatitis C transmission among people who inject drugs, and they may also provide other harm reduction services, such as naloxone distribution and overdose prevention education.
- Health departments: Health departments may provide fentanyl test strips as part of their overdose prevention programs. Some health departments also offer training on how to use the test strips and interpret the results.
It is important to note that fentanyl test strips are not foolproof and should not be relied on as the sole means of determining whether a drug contains fentanyl. It is always best to avoid using drugs altogether, and if drug use is unavoidable, it is important to use the smallest effective dose, use drugs with a known source and purity, and never use drugs alone.
Conclusion
Fentanyl test strips are an important tool for reducing the risk of overdose and death from fentanyl-containing drugs. By detecting the presence of fentanyl in drugs, individuals can make informed decisions about drug use and reduce the risk of overdose. Fentanyl test strips are available from a variety of sources, including online retailers, syringe exchange programs, and health departments. It is important to ensure that the test strips are from a reputable source and have been approved by the FDA.
