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Fentanyl test strips have become an essential tool in harm reduction efforts to combat the opioid crisis. These test strips can help individuals determine whether a substance contains fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is often mixed with other drugs like heroin or cocaine.
Discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider. In an attempt to encourage safer drug use behaviors, University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy students and their faculty advisor have made it their mission to distribute fentanyl testing strips to people who use street-purchased opioids. While harm reduction strategies like Fentanyl test strips and Narcan are vital steps in treating drug addiction, the safest way to avoid an overdose is abstinence.
How Can I Protect Myself From A Drug Overdose?
Why Use Fentanyl Test Strips
Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay test strips designed to quickly and cheaply test urine for the presence of fentanyl. Harm reduction advocates established that fentanyl test strips can also be used to test liquid samples for the presence of fentanyl, allowing pre-consumption testing of samples to check if fentanyl is present or not. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Expanding Nationwide Access to Test Strips Act, legislation that would expand access to and decriminalize drug test strips nationwide in order to prevent drug overdoses and deaths. Senators Hirono, Blumenthal, Ossoff, Feinstein, Padilla, Whitehouse, and Markey. Some online retailers sell fentanyl test strips, and certain states such as Ohio are now providing test strips in vending machines for easier access, sometimes along with naloxone. When buying online, use extreme caution to be sure the tests are valid.
The presence of fentanyl in street drugs has led to a significant increase in overdose deaths across the globe. By using fentanyl test strips, individuals can make informed decisions about their drug use and take steps to reduce the risk of accidental overdose.
Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl & Counterfeit Pills
Personalized support for addressing your child’s substance use or addiction available in English and Spanish. If you choose to use fentanyl, there are some practices that can help you minimize the risk of an overdose. Here are a few recommendations so you can be in control of your experience. The biggest risk factor is that people are often exposed unintentionally and don’t know to take the proper precautions to use this drug safely. For dilution ratios and more information, see our How to Test Fentanyl page. You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence’s blocking tools, or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence.
Where to Buy Fentanyl Test Strips
What Is Fentanyl? What Does It Look Like?
Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues (some stronger than fentanyl, some weaker) are not “naloxone resistant.” They are opioids and will respond to naloxone if someone is overdosing. Directions are very easy to understand and the tests work better than the older blue strips. I had a false positive on an older test trip, retested with a new one and it was negative.
If you’re wondering where you can buy fentanyl test strips, there are several options available. Many harm reduction organizations and pharmacies offer these test strips for purchase. Additionally, you can find fentanyl test strips online from various retailers.
It’s important to ensure that you are purchasing high-quality fentanyl test strips from a reputable source to ensure accurate results. Look for test strips that have been validated for detecting fentanyl and follow the instructions carefully when using them.
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. The potent synthetic has already killed 30 people in Vermont in 2018, more than heroin and prescription opioids combined, according to state data. Fentanyl is ending up in many different drugs, but many people aren’t aware, so they’re taking substances they’ve taken for years and unexpectedly overdosing. Kids, for example, might get a pill at a party, and it may look legitimate, but it’s not. Anyone can buy a press to make pills that look just like prescription drugs these days.
- In addition to wanting to use FTS before drug use, several participants alluded to the fact that using a urine-based test was not convenient.
- The authors thank Sarah Ruiz and Brittni Reilly of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, for their assistance in implementing this project.
- DHS also encourages hepatitis C and HIV screening as part of an ongoing drug user health initiative.
- Many of these pills are made to look identical to prescription opioids and are falsely marketed to people in the community as legitimate.
- The legislation comes after a bill to decriminalize the test strips passed the Texas House but died in the Senate despite support from Gov. Greg Abbott.
By using fentanyl test strips, you can take a proactive approach to protecting yourself and others from the dangers of fentanyl-contaminated substances. Remember, knowledge is power, and having access to tools like fentanyl test strips can save lives.
