How Safe Injection Facilities Could Reduce Fentanyl Overdoses
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. It is often added to other drugs like heroin, cocaine, and counterfeit pills to increase their potency. Unfortunately, this has led to a surge in overdoses and deaths across the country. One way to prevent overdoses is to use fentanyl test strips, which can detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs before they are used.
What Are Fentanyl Test Strips?
Narcan And Fetanyl Test Strips
There’s a lot of urban legend out there about the intentional contamination of drugs, but that doesn’t really make any sense. I think the reason that myth perpetuates is that there’s a lot of stigma and stereotype when we think about the people who are selling or using drugs. A test consists of a little white rectangle that you dip into a liquid substance that contains a drug, and it will test for whether fentanyl is present or not.
- 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].
- And even in states where it’s not strictly legal, people are rarely punished for using test strips.
- The tests are highly sensitive, so a minimal amount is needed to detect the presence of fentanyl.
Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs. They work by testing a small sample of the drug in question. If fentanyl is present, the strip will show a positive result. Fentanyl test strips are easy to use, affordable, and can provide quick results.
Where Can I Buy Fentanyl Test Strips?
Additional Services At The Center
Fentanyl test strips are becoming more widely available, but they may not be easy to find in some areas. Here are some places where you can buy fentanyl test strips:
The group hopes to receive funding from the New Mexico Department of Health soon so they can broaden their efforts, which include preventive educational presentations in addition to distributing testing strips. Unfortunately, fentanyl’s high potency also means that even a small amount can be fatal. If the user isn’t aware that the drug they bought has been adulterated, this could easily lead to an overdose. A new CDC report shows that meth caused more fatal overdoses in the United States west of the Mississippi River than fentanyl in 2017. If you or someone you know is looking to make the move to an inpatient facility, or if you’d like more information about Fentanyl treatment options, contact a treatment provider today to learn more. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp.
Harm Reduction In The News
- Online: There are several online retailers that sell fentanyl test strips. Make sure to choose a reputable seller and read reviews before making a purchase.
- Syringe exchange programs: Many syringe exchange programs offer fentanyl test strips for free or at a reduced cost. These programs are designed to reduce the harm associated with drug use and can provide a range of resources and support for people who use drugs.
- Community-based organizations: Some community-based organizations, such as harm reduction organizations, may offer fentanyl test strips. These organizations are dedicated to reducing the harm associated with drug use and may provide a range of resources and support for people who use drugs.
- Health departments: Some health departments may offer fentanyl test strips. Check with your local health department to see if they are available in your area.
Most are at least 96% accurate in detecting fentanyl as well as many fentanyl analogs (drugs that are chemically similar but not identical to fentanyl). Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that were originally created to detect fentanyl in urine. But you can also use them to see whether a drug contains fentanyl in just a few minutes. A Booklet for FamiliesCreated for family members of people with alcohol abuse or drug abuse problems. Answers questions about substance abuse, its symptoms, different types of treatment, and recovery.
Fentanyl test strips are distributed for personal use through the Utah Syringe Services Providers and community-based organizations across Utah. Contact the organizations closest to you to verify hours of operation and supply. Our goal is to assist those experiencing a substance use disorder get the help needed and reduce the impact of drug use on Utah’s communities. If you are around people or situations where an opioid overdose may occur, such as someone in your family uses opioids, you can become trained on how to administer it and have some on hand in case there is an overdose. Free naloxone nasal spray is being provided to individuals in the community and first responders to help combat the opioid crisis and reverse overdose deaths.
Why Are Fentanyl Test Strips Important?
It’s a tough thing to study, but as best as we can tell, it’s most likely unintentional. First, it’s important to know that fentanyl is tremendously potent. Even a small amount of fentanyl, especially for someone who’s not used to using opioids, could cause an overdose. Dr. Susan Sherman and Dr. Traci Green have long focused on improving the health of marginalized populations, including people with substance use disorders, sex workers and people with HIV. For this project, they wanted to both test a solution and begin to determine how well it might work in real-world settings. Michael Marquesen first noticed about a year ago that fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid, had hit the streets of Los Angeles.
Fentanyl test strips are an important tool in preventing overdoses. They can help people who use drugs make informed decisions about whether or not to use a drug. If a drug tests positive for fentanyl, people can choose not to use it or take additional precautions to reduce their risk of overdose. Fentanyl test strips can also help people who use drugs to avoid accidental exposure to fentanyl, which can be deadly even in small amounts.
It’s important to note that fentanyl test strips are not a foolproof way to prevent overdoses. They can provide a false negative result if the drug contains a small amount of fentanyl or if the test is not performed correctly. However, they can still be a valuable tool in reducing the risk of overdose and promoting harm reduction.
Conclusion
Fentanyl test strips are an important tool in preventing overdoses and promoting harm reduction. They can help people who use drugs make informed decisions about whether or not to use a drug and can reduce the risk of accidental exposure to fentanyl. If you are interested in purchasing fentanyl test strips, there are several options available, including online retailers, syringe exchange programs, community-based organizations, and health departments.