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Distributing Fentanyl Test Strips in the Emergency Department

Distributing Fentanyl Test Strips in the Emergency Department can be part of best practices for medical professional who want to help reduce instances of fatal overdoses in their communities.

This video shows two physicians and a nurse from Jefferson Health talking about why they distribute fentanyl test strips and some best practices they’ve learned along the way. We hope that other clinical settings can incorporate fentanyl test strips into care for patients who use drugs after watching this video.

When people are able to use fentanyl test strips, people implement additional harm reduction strategies with their drug use, such as testing a small sample of the drug, using less, or asking a trusted friend to sit with them when they use. People are also more likely to share test results with their peers who use drugs, helping to increase awareness and reduce potential harm in the community. If we want to end overdose, we must expand access to drug checking methods and support the use of fentanyl test strips.

Drug checking strategies can help to reduce fatal overdose. With access to fentanyl test strips, people who use drugs are able to make informed decisions about the drugs they use. Though there is a great and growing need for fentanyl test strips, they are criminalized as paraphernalia in many states. 

This video was created by Jefferson Health and made possible through grant funding from Vital Strategies through funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

How to use Fentanyl Test Strips informational video.