Frequently Asked Questions About Fentanyl And Fentanyl Test Strips
But a growing number of health and public policy experts are supporting their use along with other harm-reduction strategies. If you need fentanyl test strips for personal use, you can find a list of community organizations that provide them at no cost below. You can also find test strips at some of the Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs on this list. Certified providers can order up to 1,200 fentanyl test strips and up to 600 xylazine test strips or set up a naloxone ordering account using the provider and individual request form. 70% of drug users who learn that their products contain fentanyl will alter their drug habits, according to a 2018 Johns Hopkins study.
Where to Buy Fentanyl Test Strips
It’s been a great resource to be able to offer those to people and to start a conversation about understanding contamination and the risks of unintentional overdose. Right now, we exist in an era where the illicit drug supply in this country is unregulated, contaminated, and often poisonous. One way to keep people safe is to give them knowledge of what it is that they’re using. Fentanyl test strips are not a panacea, but they are a way for someone to know if fentanyl is present or not. The fentanyl test strips given away were packaged into kits including 10 strips, each with instructions on how to use them, a pocket-sized set of instructions with pictures, and information on fentanyl. The kits also included a NEXT Distro card, which is a mail-based program where people can receive free Narcan and fentanyl test strips.
Regardless of test results, start low, go slow, have naloxone/Narcan nearby and don’t use alone. 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. City to study use of fentanyl-detecting test strips by distributing them in exchange vans.
Fentanyl might not be everywhere evenly in your product, so if you only test a portion of your supply you might end up missing it. 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.
According to the CDC, deaths from fentanyl poisoning are fastest growing among 14- to 23-year-olds. The presence of fentanyl both in counterfeit pills and in illicit street drugs poses a grave threat to the safety of teens and adults alike. Sometimes it may take more doses, but studies show that a person experiencing an overdose involving fentanyl will usually ‘come to’ after 1 or 2 doses. Chest rigidity has been seen in some fentanyl-related overdoses and this causes the individual to stop breathing immediately. The presence of fentanyl in street drugs makes it more important than ever to recognize and treat a suspected overdose immediately.
You can still overdose by smoking and snorting, especially with fentanyl, so start slow and use less to start. Currently, Fentanyl test strips can be found in several locations. First, Fentanyl test strips can be bought online through vendors like BTNX or Dance Safe. They can also be found for free or at low cost through local health departments or community-based organizations, like safe injection sites or needle exchange programs.
Fentanyl test strips are essential tools for individuals who want to test their substances for the presence of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. As the opioid crisis continues to impact communities, these test strips provide a line of defense against accidental overdoses.
The potent synthetic has already killed 30 people in Vermont in 2018, more than heroin and prescription opioids combined, according to state data. “Criminalizing fentanyl test strips is like outlawing water hoses during a house fire — it won’t fix the problem, and it’ll get people killed,” Crockett said in a May statement. 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 has been found in many different drugs, including heroin, cocaine, crack, methamphetamine and ketamine.
When you use alcohol, you know when you’re ordering a glass of wine, a beer, or a cocktail. You know roughly what the alcohol by volume content is, and you can make choices around how much you’re going to consume and the impact it’ll have on your body. Fentanyl test strips used at the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia in Charleston. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.
Understanding Fentanyl Test Strips
Fentanyl test strips act as a rapid screening method to detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs. They work by allowing users to dissolve a small amount of their substance in water and then using the strip to test for fentanyl. If fentanyl is present, the test will indicate a positive result, helping users make informed choices.
Where to Buy Fentanyl Test Strips
When it comes to purchasing fentanyl test strips, several options are available. Here are some reliable sources:
- Online Retailers: Websites like Amazon, eBay, and specialized online pharmacies often stock fentanyl test strips. Shopping online allows for discreet purchases and delivery.
- Local Harm Reduction Organizations: Many communities have harm reduction programs that provide free or low-cost fentanyl test strips. These organizations aim to reduce the risks associated with drug use and promote safety.
- Pharmacies: Some pharmacies may carry fentanyl test strips, especially those that focus on harm reduction. It’s best to call ahead and inquire about availability.
- Community Health Centers: Various health centers offer testing strips as part of their public health initiatives to combat the opioid crisis. These centers may also provide education on their use.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing
When looking to buy fentanyl test strips, consider the following:
- Legitimacy: Ensure that you are purchasing from a reputable source to avoid counterfeit products.
- Cost: Prices can vary significantly, so it’s essential to compare costs and check if there are free options available in your area.
- Quality: Look for test strips that have good reviews regarding accuracy and ease of use.
- Expiration Date: Check the expiration date as older test strips may yield unreliable results.
- Because of the War on Drugs, misguided public health policy, and laws punishing drug use, the unsafe drug supply is growing.
- 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.
- Overdoses from fentanyl have had a devastating impact on San Francisco, and our nightlife and entertainment community has been hit particularly hard.
- Many of the participants who had not used FTS during the study had expressed that given a longer time frame for use, they would have tried the FTS.
- Rapid fentanyl test strips (FTS) represent an emerging harm reduction intervention that may help to prevent unintentional fentanyl exposure and accidental opioid overdose.
FAQs About Fentanyl Test Strips
Q: Are fentanyl test strips legal to purchase?
A: Yes, in many places, fentanyl test strips are legal to buy and possess. However, laws may vary by state or country.
Q: Can fentanyl test strips test for all opioids?
A: No, fentanyl test strips specifically test for the presence of fentanyl and may not provide information about other opioids.
Q: How accurate are fentanyl test strips?
A: While fentanyl test strips can be quite accurate, they are not foolproof. A negative result does not guarantee that fentanyl is absent, and users should still exercise caution.
Q: How should I use fentanyl test strips?
A: Follow the instructions that come with the strips carefully. Typically, it involves mixing a small amount of your substance with water and dipping the strip into the solution.
Conclusion
Being informed about where to buy fentanyl test strips is crucial for those at risk of fentanyl exposure. By utilizing reliable sources and understanding how to use these tests effectively, individuals can take proactive steps to safeguard their health and well-being. Knowledge and preparation are essential in tackling the ongoing challenges posed by opioid usage, making fentanyl test strips valuable allies in harm reduction efforts.
