A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Fentanyl test strips are no longer considered drug paraphernalia in Kentucky; that could help save lives


Staff report

Thanks to a bill sponsored by Rep. Kim Moser and Rep. Rachel Roberts which passed in the legislative session and was signed into law by the governor, fentanyl test strips are no long considered drug paraphernalia in Kentucky.

The HB 353 states:

Testing equipment utilized in determining whether a controlled substance contains chemicals, toxic substances, or hazardous compounds which can cause physical harm or death shall not be deemed drug paraphernalia under this section. This includes but is not limited to fentanyl test strips.

Kim Moser

Fentanyl test strips are paper strips that can detect the presence of fentanyl in pills and other drugs within minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that contributed to 73% of Kentucky’s 2,250 overdoses in 2021, the Kentucky Lantern reported. it is similar to morphine bu 50-100 times more potent. Using the test strips can help prevent overdoses, the CDC says.
 
“Unwitting individuals may think they are ingesting one substance and unaware that it also contains fentanyl,” Jennifer Hancock, president and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States, said in a statement. “With police departments and other emergency responders already carrying and administering NARCAN, a medicine used for the treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose emergency, it makes sense to prevent these overdoses on the front end. It may afford another day where we can get an individual into recovery.

Rachel Roberts

“Test strips and a strong education campaign are evidenced-based practices that can help stem the tide of deaths by fentanyl. We can’t put people on the road to recovery if they’re dead.”
 
The paraphernalia designation dissuaded public agencies and groups that work with drug users from purchasing and distributing strips for fear that doing so would land them in legal trouble, according to a statement from Kentucky Smart on Crime, a coalition working for justice reforms that address inequities and improve public health.

Drug dealers mix fentanyl with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA because it takes very little fentanyl to produce a high, making it a cheaper option, says the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The risk of overdose increases when people don’t realize they’re taking fentanyl.

 


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5 Comments

  1. Regina says:

    This is about the craziest thing KY has done. We give drug heads free needles to shut up with and now give them strips to check their pills. If they don’t want to change they want. Why don’t we supply KY residents with Diabetes with free needles and free medication. I feel that Governor and Representatives care more about the people that are on drugs then they do KY Residents that is NOT but have medical conditions that could use free supplies also

  2. Earl slone says:

    I think all law inforsement should get more tougher on fentanyl people are buying and selling it left and right and how are they getting so much of this in the first place I believe all doctors and records should be look at. This is the best way to slow this drug down and nother thing we all need harsh laws on this drug and any other drug people in Floyd county ky are falling like flys. We need a new president that would stop drugs from coming cross our borders we can’t stop this unless all states stand together we don’t need to think let’s send United States senators and congressmen a notice they need to act on this it is our fault for putting joe Biden in office look how many people is back in usa and before when trump was in office drugs were down believe it or not it was true let get off our ass and do something don’t talk bout it for month now is the time today April 3 2023

  3. Lisa says:

    The blame goes to the white house on President biden for leaving borders open so that the cartels can go freely in and out of the us . But he’s not man enough to take the blame he blame everything on everyone else lol he is a joke

  4. Stephen R Smallwood says:

    Finally, government is beginning to understand what is needed. I see all these negative comments… educate yourself before hand. Contempt prior to investigation is a fools errand. I’m a diabetic…its also my choice to eat foods I shouldn’t, so that point is mute. I’m in recovery, 9 years clean. I also work in the recovery field trying to help others battle this disease. This is but a beginning, much more is needed.

  5. Lisa says:

    This is not a bill that supports drug addiction this is a bill that supports pro-life and I am a Democrat but I greatly appreciate the fact that these two Republican females are making the move got the government Governor to sign this bill into it becoming illegal fact the people can test drugs to see what’s in them because fentanyl is deadly. Those of you that are diabetic as I am we have a choice of what we eat and we know what we’re putting in our mouth the people who are unknowing that fentanyl is in whatever they have purchased are playing Russian roulette. The pro-life Bill people is not a bill that supports addiction as the clean needle act that is not about addiction even that is about saving lives also so the people don’t get HIV or hepatitis B or C it’s all about saving lives God bless you ladies.

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