How to Get and Use Fentanyl Test Strips
Fentanyl has recently become the deadliest drug in America, according to a December CDC report. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is sometimes mixed with other illicit drugs, but it is much more effective than what is usually mixed with. This means that a dose that seemed safe (ish) can be lethal, but you won’t know if you don’t actually test it.
Fortunately, there is a way to test: there are fentanyl test strips for detecting traces of the drug in a person’s urine, and they can be easily repurposed to test the drug before you take it. The Harm Reduction Coalition has complete guidelines that include:
- Rinse the medicine bag or pan with sterile water. (To test a tablet, crush the tablet and mix it with water.)
- Dip the test strip in water for 15 seconds.
- Place the strip horizontally (on a sterile surface if possible) and read the results. Two lines indicate that no fentanyl was detected; one line means it was.
The stripes cannot tell you how much fentanyl is present, just whether it is there or not.
What to do after receiving the result is up to you. It is not necessary to take the medicine just because it does not contain fentanyl; and while it might be wise not to use the drug at all if it contains fentanyl, in fact some people will use it anyway. The Harm Reduction Coalition states that “Risk reduction measures may include using less of the substance, giving slow or trial shots, not using it alone, using naloxone with a nearby rescue kit, or not using these substances altogether.” If you or someone you know is using any opioid medication, it is always a good idea to have naloxone on hand and know how to use it .
Check with your local harm reduction agency to see if free test strips are available. (These will be the same people who organize things like needle exchange, naloxone training, and injection site monitoring.) If not, you can order them online for about $ 2 a strip at places like DanceSafe .
Updated 02/03/2019: two lines means there is no fentanyl. Always carefully check the instructions that came with your strips or the instructions from your local harm reduction agency.