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- It temporarily blocks the effect of opioids and helps a person to start breathing again.
- The information on this website is not intended to be a substitute for, or to be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
- The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.
- Participating organizations have access to an unlimited supply of packages.
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 significant increase in overdose deaths in recent years. One way to prevent overdose is to use fentanyl test strips, which can detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs before they are used.
MORE RESOURCES ABOUT FENTANYL TEST STRIPS:
What are Fentanyl Test Strips?
Xylazine has been increasingly found in fentanyl products, and the percentage of fentanyl-involved deaths with xylazine detected increased 276% from January 2019 to June 2022. Overdose deaths involving fentanyl have quadrupled in recent years. Because of the War on Drugs and criminalization of people who use drugs, people often are unaware of the exact composition of the substances they’re using. This makes evidence-based harm reduction strategies such as fentanyl test strips, safety planning, and access to safe supply more vital than ever. Fentanyl test strips (FTS) can detect the presence of fentanyl in both opioids and non-opioids. We offer free fentanyl test strip kits, as well as informational resources, to encourage safer use practices and prevent overdose deaths.
JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A RISK DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO BE AT RISK THERE ARE WAYS TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE
Fentanyl test strips are a simple and inexpensive way to test drugs for the presence of fentanyl. They work by detecting the presence of fentanyl in a drug sample. The test strip is dipped into a small amount of drug residue or dissolved drug and then dipped into a solution. If fentanyl is present, a line will appear on the strip. If fentanyl is not present, two lines will appear.
Police evidence that looked like black tar heroin actually was heroin in 95% of cases, suggesting that fentanyl was rarely in “heroin” in 2020. They’re important because we live in an era of contaminated drug supply. The illicit drugs (meaning those that people buy outside of a pharmacy or from an unregulated source) have become incredibly contaminated. For example, substances that were formerly sold as heroin in Massachusetts are almost entirely illicitly manufactured fentanyl.
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Where to Buy Fentanyl Test Strips
Fentanyl test strips are legal in most states and can be purchased online or in person. Here are some places where you can buy fentanyl test strips:
- Online retailers: There are several online retailers that sell fentanyl test strips, such as DanceSafe, BunkPolice, and Dancesafe.org. These retailers often offer discounts for bulk purchases and have a wide selection of test strips for different drugs.
- Syringe exchange programs: Many syringe exchange programs offer fentanyl test strips for free or at a reduced cost. These programs are often run by local health departments or non-profit organizations and provide resources for people who use drugs.
- Community-based organizations: Some community-based organizations, such as harm reduction organizations, may also provide fentanyl test strips. These organizations often have a mission to reduce the harm associated with drug use and may offer other resources, such as naloxone training and distribution.
Watch a video on How to use fentanyl test strips from Prevent Overdose-Rhode Island. Take the same steps as you would with any suspected opioid overdose. My hope is the test strips could become even more available so that someone could go to a drugstore, pharmacy, or convenience store and be able to purchase them. We want multiple touchpoints and multiple avenues for people to be able to empower themselves and stay safe.
Nonprofits And Local Health Departments That Distribute Fentanyl Test Strips
Why Use Fentanyl Test Strips
Fentanyl test strips can help prevent overdose deaths by allowing people who use drugs to make informed decisions about their drug use. By testing drugs before they are used, people can avoid using drugs that contain fentanyl or adjust their dosage accordingly. Fentanyl test strips are also a valuable tool for harm reduction organizations and syringe exchange programs, which aim to reduce the harm associated with drug use.
Naloxone is available at pharmacies across the state at low or no cost; naloxone kits and training sessions are available upon request. The AMA promotes the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health. Satisfy the new eight-hour MATE Act training requirement on treating patients with opioid or other substance use disorders with CME from AMA Ed Hub™. Learn about the nation’s drug overdose and death epidemic, and the efforts made by physicians to end the epidemic in this AMA Advocacy Insights webinar. Over 107,000 Americans died of a drug-related overdose last year, but payers have yet to step up to boost access to lifesaving treatment.
Conclusion
Fentanyl test strips are an important tool in the fight against overdose deaths. By detecting the presence of fentanyl in drugs before they are used, people can make informed decisions about their drug use and reduce their risk of overdose. Fentanyl test strips are legal in most states and can be purchased online or in person from a variety of retailers. If you or someone you know uses drugs, consider using fentanyl test strips as part of a harm reduction strategy.
