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Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. It is often mixed with other drugs, including heroin, cocaine, and counterfeit pills, and can be deadly even in small amounts. Fentanyl test strips are a simple and effective way to detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs, and can help prevent accidental overdoses.
What are Fentanyl Test Strips?
Presence Of Fentanyl Led To Behavior Change
Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs. They work by detecting the chemical markers of fentanyl in a drug sample, and can provide results in just a few minutes. Fentanyl test strips are easy to use, and can be a valuable tool for people who use drugs, as well as their friends, family members, and harm reduction organizations.
- Find information on trainings, education, access to Naloxone and supplies, and other harm reduction resources.
- Exposure to intravenous fentanyl or other synthetic opioids poses a higher risk for developing WCS due to its high potency.
- As part of our harm reduction plan at UCSC Student Health Services, SHOP and the Cove have partnered to provide Naloxone and Fentanyl Testing Strips (FTS) to our students.
- Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that detect the presence of fentanyl in different forms and within different drugs.
- You’ll find up-to-date fact sheets, webinars, manuals, training guides, and more.
If used correctly, fentanyl test strips can detect the presence of the most common types of fentanyl in street drugs and pills. These strips can be a useful harm reduction tool for people who drugs. Fentanyl test strips may not be able to detect all forms of illicit fentanyl and they cannot tell you how much fentanyl may be present. There can also be false positives (showing that fentanyl is present when it really isn’t).
Where to Buy Fentanyl Test Strips
Fentanyl Test Strips:
Participants were asked if they had any questions regarding the videos or handout. Participants were then provided with ten strips to take home and a printout of what a positive or negative result looked like. Participants also received resources which included fentanyl harm reduction suggestions, instructions on how to recognize an opioid overdose, and information on local resources. At the end of the study visit, participants were compensated $25 USD for their time. Rapid fentanyl test strips (FTS) represent an emerging harm reduction intervention that may help to prevent unintentional fentanyl exposure and accidental opioid overdose.
There are several places where you can buy fentanyl test strips, both online and in physical stores. Here are some options:
- Online vendors: There are several online vendors that sell fentanyl test strips, including DanceSafe, Dancesafe.org, and Teststrip.org. These vendors typically ship the test strips discreetly, and offer a variety of payment options.
- Harm reduction organizations: Many harm reduction organizations, such as syringe exchange programs and overdose prevention programs, offer fentanyl test strips for free or at a low cost. You can find a list of these organizations on the National Harm Reduction Coalition’s website.
- Pharmacies: Some pharmacies, such as Walgreens and CVS, sell fentanyl test strips over the counter. However, availability may vary by location, and the test strips may not be covered by insurance.
This could prove to be true in Rhode Island where participants noted that fentanyl contamination is likely. Ultimately, future research is needed to evaluate FTS interventions to understand how FTS may contribute to behavior change among young adults. Further studies should examine which fentanyl analogs are able to be detected in urine or drugs and to what degree of sensitivity. In general, our results suggest that rapid drug tests might be an acceptable intervention for young adults who use drugs for identifying adulterants in the drug illicit supply. Synthetic opioid overdose mortality among young adults has risen more than 300% in the USA since 2013, primarily due to the contamination of heroin and other drugs with illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Rapid test strips, which can be used to detect the presence of fentanyl in drug samples (before use) or urine (after use), may help inform people about their exposure risk.
SAC providers worked in close partnership with syringe access participants to test samples of drugs and complete a brief survey regarding the findings, including the participant’s behavior upon learning if their sample tested positive or negative. We report here the results of the baseline survey and the outcomes of the fentanyl strip test training and receipt of the take-home tests. Test kits that include strips and a special testing solution can cost anywhere between $25 to $40 each and are available online. But there are more than 60 community programs in California and many provide fentanyl testing strips for free. Local Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs or OOPPs connect New Yorkers with naloxone, naloxone training, fentanyl test strips, and safe syringe access and disposal services.
FAQs
Are fentanyl test strips accurate?
Rapid Response Fentanyl Test Strip Kit (Liquid / Powder)
Yes, fentanyl test strips are highly accurate and can detect fentanyl at concentrations as low as 0.02 micrograms per milliliter. However, they may not detect all forms of fentanyl, and false positives are possible.
How do I use fentanyl test strips?
Columbus Public Health
To use fentanyl test strips, you will need to dissolve a small sample of your drug in water, then dip the test strip in the water for a few seconds. After waiting a few minutes, you can read the results by looking for a line on the test strip. If a line appears, the drug does not contain fentanyl. If no line appears, the drug may contain fentanyl.
Can I use fentanyl test strips on blotter paper or pills?
No, fentanyl test strips are not designed to detect fentanyl on blotter paper or pills. They are most effective when used on drugs that have been dissolved in water.
Are fentanyl test strips legal?
Yes, fentanyl test strips are legal in most states. However, some states have laws that restrict or prohibit the sale of drug testing equipment, so it is important to check your local laws before purchasing or using fentanyl test strips.
Can I reuse fentanyl test strips?
No, fentanyl test strips are intended for one-time use only. Reusing them may compromise their accuracy and increase the risk of false positives or false negatives.
Too many people in our community are disproportionately affected by substance use disorder. During times of individual and collective stress, there is a potential for increased opioid use as a way to self-medicate. Opioids, used in tandem with alcohol or other “downers” (such as Valium, Xanax, Ativan, and sleep medications) are particularly dangerous, and Narcan can save lives while help is on the way. If given in time, Narcan® (also known as Naloxone) can save the life of someone who is overdosing from opioids. It can stop an overdose and restore normal breathing until emergency response can arrive.
Where can I get more information about fentanyl test strips?
For more information about fentanyl test strips, you can visit the National Harm Reduction Coalition’s website or contact a local harm reduction organization.
