Opioid Fight: Fentanyl Test Strips

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fentanyl is the “deadliest drug in America”, accounting for 26% of overdose deaths. Unfortunately, because of its high potency (80-100 times more potent than morphine) Fentanyl is known to be diverted for abuse. Fentanyl is also known to be added to other drugs, like heroin and cocaine, to disguise them as more potent.  Evidence suggests that there are many instances where drug users are unaware of this added Fentanyl. In a study named “Fentanyl Overdose Reduction Checking Analysis Study”, findings showed that 84% of respondents were concerned about their drugs containing fentanyl, and 85% of respondents said that they wished they knew beforehand. Furthermore, 70% of respondents admitted that they would modify their behavior if they knew their drugs contained fentanyl.

Due to the increase of opioid-related deaths, there has been a rise in the use of Fentanyl test strip technology to test for the presence of Fentanyl and its analogs. These test strips were developed by a Canadian biotec company called BTNX to test for Fentanyl in the urine, however they work the same way when the strip is dipped into a drug mixed with water. The strip can test either positive or negative; it won’t tell you how much Fentanyl is present. Based on the result, the drug user can decide to take preventative measures, such as using less substance or not using at all. 

Many programs in the United States that distribute clean syringes to drug users have started to distribute fentanyl strips. Although these strips can be a method to reduce overdose, there exists controversy and concerns around this topic. For example, perhaps drug users will use this tool to seek out fentanyl to achieve a stronger high. There is also the idea of letting drug users continue their lifestyle of drug abuse, but just letting them do it more “safely”. 

References:
https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/02/health/fentanyl-test-strip/index.html
https://harmreduction.org/issues/fentanyl/
https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl
http://americanhealth.jhu.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/Fentanyl_Executive_Summary_032018.pdf

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