Low-tech, low-cost test strips show promise for reducing fentanyl overdoses
Fentanyl is one of the most potent opioids and is often laced into street drugs, which increases the risk of overdosing.
A study to assess the feasibility of checking illicit street drugs for fentanyl found that low-cost test strips detect the presence of fentanyl with a high degree of accuracy, and that the vast majority of people who use street drugs are interested in using drug checking to help prevent overdoses. The initial findings indicate that drug checking presents an opportunity for a public health approach to the fentanyl overdose crisis.