Fentanyl self-testing outside supervised injection settings to prevent opioid overdose: Do we know enough to promote it?

Since 2013, North America has experienced a sharp increase in unintentional fatal overdoses: fentanyl, and its analogues, are believed to be primarily responsible. Currently, the most practical means for people who use drugs (PWUD) to avoid or mitigate risk of fentanyl-related overdose is to use drugs in the presence of someone who is in possession of, and experienced using, naloxone. Self-test strips which detect fentanyl, and some of its analogues, have been developed for off-label use allowing PWUD to test their drugs prior to consumption.

Source: International Journal of Drug Policy - May 11, 2018 Category: Addiction Authors: Catherine R. McGowan, Magdalena Harris, Lucy Platt, Vivian Hope, Tim Rhodes Tags: Commentary Source Type: research