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Results sorted by updated date (oldest first)
Results sorted by updated date (oldest first)
Posted 9/14/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
The Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA (FDA Foundation), in partnership with several operating divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), convened two roundtable meetings to understand the perspectives of the harm reduction community, clinicians, and researchers about using fentanyl drug checking and screening as harm reduction and clinical strategies.
Posted 4/28/2023 (updated 3/27/2024)
With the proliferation of fentanyl and other adulterants in the national illicit drug supply, people who use drugs (PWUD) are at greater risk of overdose. Among more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths that occurred between July 2021–June 2022, 64% involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Lowering the high rates of overdose among PWUD is possible, as evidence-based practices exist to prevent and respond to overdose, including fentanyl test strips and advanced drug checking equipment. To inform health departments’ harm reduction programming, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing – with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – developed Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Fentanyl Test Strips and Other Drug Checking Equipment, an educational brief grounded by real-world experience.
Posted 7/14/2023 (updated 3/28/2024)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has compiled a Harm Reduction Framework document that will inform the agency's activities, policies, programs, and practices. The framework document includes SAMHSA's six pillars of harm reduction as well as supporting principles and core practice areas.
Posted 7/21/2023 (updated 3/28/2024)
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released a plan in response to fentanyl being adulterated or associated with xylazine, which was declared as an emerging drug threat in April 2023. Due to the effect of combining these substances, people may be less responsive to naloxone in an overdose situation. The response plan includes evidence-based prevention, treatment, and supply reduction action steps, goals, and performance measures.
Posted 1/27/2021 (updated 4/4/2024)
The current study examined the accuracy of sensory discernment strategies by measuring study participants’ descriptions of the last opioid injected and checked with a fentanyl test strip (FTS) by that test's positive/negative result. The primary objective was to determine associations between FTS results and descriptions of the illi it opioid's physical appearance and physiological effects.
Posted 10/23/2023 (updated 5/24/2024)
Using data from 77 harm reduction programs in 25 US states, researchers found that 12-15% of powder methamphetamine and powder cocaine also contained fentanyl although the prevalence varied geographically. Prevalence of fentanyl in crystal methamphetamine and crack cocaine was lower. Heroin and xylazine were also found in unregulated stimulants. Xylazine reduced the ability to detect fentanyl.