This article contains the following information:

• Why would CPP's want this information?
• What is illicit fentanyl?
• What are some myths about illicit fentanyl?
• What are illicit fentanyl testing strips?
• Are illicit fentanyl testing strips legal?
• Where can I get them?
• How do I use them?

Why Would CPP's Want This Information?

• I want to be clear that we at The Doctor Patient Forum do not encourage anyone to obtain pills on the street, from a friend, or from anywhere other than your pharmacy.
• We are aware that some chronic pain patients (CPP's) who have been medically abandoned have been so desperate for pain relief that they've either gone to the street or taken a pill from a friend.
• Since up to 42% of all pills on the street contain illicit fentanyl, we want to provide Harm Reduction information so if you are getting medication from somewhere other than your pharmacy, you know what to do to try to keep yourself safe.
• Please understand that when you take a pill that you obtained from someone other than your pharmacy, even if you use illicit fentanyl testing strips, there is no guarantee that the medication is safe for you to take. Even if you test your medication, we highly recommend you have Naloxone available (I will be adding content on this shortly, and I will link the information here) and that you don't ever take the medication when you're alone. In case you don't have anyone who can be there with you, there is a never use alone hotline 1-800-484-3731.  

What is Illicit Fentanyl?

Illicit Fentanyl is not the same as prescription fentanyl. It is often made in labs in China and then smuggled in the the USA through Mexico. Illicit fentanyl is the leading cause of all drug-related deaths in the USA. Many who end up taking illicit fentanyl don't even realize it's in the medication or drugs they ingest. Due to this fact, we prefer to call it a poisoning instead of an overdose. Those who sell it often use pill presses so it looks identical to prescription medication. It is made to look like hydrocodone, oxycodone, Xanax, and other prescription drugs. It has also been found in other illicit substances such as heroin, meth, or cocaine. One reason drug dealers are using illicit fentanyl is due to its potency. A tiny bit goes a long way, but that is also the reason it kills so many people. The last statistic I read was that 42% of all street pills tested has illicit fentanyl in them.

What Are Some Myths About Illict Fentanyl?

• A very common myth is that prescription grade fentanyl is what's killing so many people. This is absolutely false. Media and even addiction specialists often conflate prescription fentanyl with illicit fentanyl analogues. Illicit fentanyl, not prescription fentanyl, is what's killing so many people.
  • A recent toxicology study showed "Out of 18,393 deaths that were confirmed, probable, or suspected heroin deaths (including 2678 with morphine listed as cause of death on the DC) and 404 as probable pharmaceutical morphine deaths, among deaths with fentanyl detected, 89.3% were defined as probable or suspected IMF (illicitly manufactured) and 1.0% as probable pharmaceutical (prescription) fentanyl."
• There is a false narrative that's widely spread in media and repeated often that just touching illicit fentanyl or being in the same room as it can cause an overdose/poisoning. You see images of police in hazmat suits. This doesn't happen. It's important to understand this fact because if you by a pill off the street and test it for illicit fentanyl, and it turns out your pill contains illicit fentanyl, merely touching the substance will not cause an overdose/poisoning.

Ryan Marino MD often addresses the myths surrounding illicit fentanyl. He has shared the following image with permission to share it:

What Are Illicit Fentanyl Testing Strips?

Illicit fentanyl testing strips are part of Harm Reduction that assist in overdose prevention. They are actually FDA approved to detect fentanyl in urine, but are also increasingly being used as a Harm Reduction drug-checking strategy.

Are They Legal?

• Sadly, they are illegal in some states because they are considered drug paraphernalia. In the states they're illegal, Harm Reduction groups are fighting to change those laws. Josh Bloom wrote about this issue in an article called Fentanyl Test Strips Are Illegal. This Is Obscene

•  Please check hereTo find out if they're legal in your state.

Where Can I Get Them?

• For individual or small orders, you can get them at Dosetest. They cost about $1.00 each. 
• For larger orders (like if you want to order in bulk for yourself or to hand out) you can get them at BTNX. For more information about how to order them in bulk, please e-mail Michael@btnx.com.They sometimes offer a discount for new customers.

How Do I Use Them?

• Here is a Brochure from NYC Dept. of Health showing how to use illicit fentanyl testing strips. Here is a PDF of the Brochure.

• One important point to note is the results are opposite from other tests like pregnancy tests.
  • One tine = positive (+) result (meaning there is illicit fentanyl present).
  • Two Lines = negative (-) result (no illicit fentanyl detected).
  • The following graphic explains how to read results:

• Remember, a negative test result is not a guarantee that illicit fentanyl is not in your pill.

• Most how to videos and information are geared toward PWID (people who inject drugs). We know that most CPP's who go to the streets won't inject the medication. When testing a pill that you are not intending to inject you have two options -both are explained in the following video:

1. 1. Dissolve the entire pill in water and test it (this is the most reliable method). Once it tests negative for illicit fentanyl, you can still swallow the liquid, or you can put it in a capsule to avoid tasting the dissolved pill.
      • Here are two websites to purchase gel caps which are specifically made for liquid such as essential oils: 
        • Amazon
        • Azure Standard
      • How to fill a gel cap with liquid according to these websites:
        • Pull apart the capsule. One side is larger than the other, allowing the smaller end to fit inside the larger one
        • Draw your liquid supplements into a medicine dropper. Place the end of the dropper over the smaller side of the gel capsule.
        • Carefully squeeze the dropper to fill the capsule. Slide the larger end on to enclose the liquid inside the capsule.
        • Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. 
   2. You can scrape off part of the pill as Amanda shows in the following video. Just know there is no guarantee that the composition of a counterfeit pill is uniform throughout. So, it's possible that the small sample you test will be negative for illicit fentanyl, but other parts of the pill will be positive.

• If you bought more than one pill, testing one of the pills does not guarantee that the other pills will have the same composition.

Here is a how to video by an amazing Harm Reduction advocate, Amanda Mazur. Check out her Tik Tok videos for more information about Harm Reduction. In addition to teaching about Harm Reduction, Amanda also fights for the rights of CPP's to have access to prescription opioids.

As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact us through our contact page. 

This content was written by Bev Schechtman and Carrie Judy for The Doctor Patient Forum. Updated March 3, 2022

This article contains the following information:

• What is Harm Reduction?
• What is Harm Reduction in relation to drugs?
• What does Harm Reduction have to do with pain patients?

We cover the following Harm Reduction information/resources:

• Illicit Fentanyl testing strips
• Never Use Alone Hotline and Information
• Naloxone (Narcan)
• Kratom

What is Harm Reduction?

There isn't one standard definition, but I asked Maia Szalavitz, a Harm Reduction expert who wrote the first comprehensive book on the history of Harm Reduction and drugs called Undoing Drugs , how she would define it. She said "It's policy that focuses first on stopping people from getting hurt, not stopping them from getting high or engaging in other risky behavior. Importantly, that definition doesn't exclude abstinence approaches for those who seek them." The concept of Harm Reduction has been used for years in this country.

For example:

1. Seat belts - We know people will drive carelessly and there will always be car accidents. So, we use seat belts to reduce harm of the accidents.
2. Condoms - We know people are going to have sex and teaching abstinence only won't prevent unwanted pregnancies and STD's. So, we have things like condoms to try to prevent pregnancies and STD's.
3. Designated Driver - We know some people will drink when eating dinner out. So, there is the recommendation to have a designated driver who won't drink to prevent driving while intoxicated.

What is Harm Reduction In Relation to Drugs?

 National Harm Reduction Coalitionexplains it like this: "National Harm Reduction Coalition works for the Harm Reduction movement built on a belief in and respect for the rights of people who use drugs. Our strategies include building leadership among people who use drugs and supporting communities in reducing the negative consequences associated with drug use." So, basically it means instead of telling people to not use drugs (like Nancy Reagan's just say no movement) Harm Reduction acknowledges that people are going to use drugs, so they do what they can to keep them  safe and alive by using different strategies and techniques. In the last year, there have been over 100,000 drug related deaths in the USA, so clearly what we are doing (the war on drugs) isn't working. As Maia mentioned, if people choose abstinence like with a 12 step program, that is included in Harm Reduction. Although Harm Reduction has been accepted in USA in relation to cars or alcohol, Maia explains that "it's a very old idea, but in drug policy it is radical because we've always focused on stopping drugs, not on harm and we cause lots of harm trying to stop drugs." There are many techniques used in Harm Reduction in drug use. I'll list some examples, and then will add content about each one. As we add each category listed below, we will link each one to the information we add. This isn't an exhaustive list.

1. Illicit Fentanyl testing strips
2. Never Use Alone Hotline and Information
3. Naloxone (Narcan)
4. Kratom
5. Lock Boxes/Safe for controlled substances
6. Safe or safer supply
7. Needle exchange (syringe service programs)
8. Safe Injection Sites

What does Harm Reduction Have To Do With Pain Patients?

You might be asking how this relates to pain patients and why this information is even on our website. As more and more pain patients are cut off from their medication, many are going to the streets to purchase pain medication out of desperation for pain relief. Since up to half of the supply of medication on the street is actually counterfeit containing illicit fentanyl, we feel it's very important for pain patients to know how to access Harm Reduction techniques so they can test their medication and not die from drug poisoning. I didn't know much about Harm Reduction (HR) until last year. Several prominent CPP advocates have been trying to join the CPP community with the HR community for a few years. Lelena Peacock, Carrie Judy (a researcher with our org), and D. S. Nelson were the first CPP advocates I saw who understood early on how HR and CPP's need to be working together and not against each other.