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Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid medically approved for treating severe pain. It is generally safe when taken as prescribed and under medical supervision.1 However, fentanyl is commonly found in street drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ketamine, and methamphetamine, and you may be unaware you are consuming it. Fentanyl can significantly increase the risk of overdose, and unfortunately, it cannot be detected by sight, smell, taste, or touch. However, fentanyl test strips can be used to detect the presence of fentanyl in a substance, giving people information they can use to reduce their risk of overdose on fentanyl.2
Where to Buy Fentanyl Test Strips
Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are an affordable drug testing method initially developed for urinalysis, but they were also found to be effective at detecting the presence of fentanyl in drug samples before consumption.1
You can purchase fentanyl test strips at CVS (and other participating pharmacies), or you may be able to find them for free at your state’s local health department(s), needle exchange programs, and other community organizations. They can also be purchased online on websites like Amazon.
However, fentanyl test strips are not legal in every state. Some states consider them drug paraphernalia (items you need to consume drugs). For example, fentanyl test strips remain illegal in Texas despite their ability to save lives by preventing fatal overdoses.
However, many states are changing their policies to help prevent opioid overdoses and save lives. Tennessee recently changed its policy and legalized fentanyl test strips, no longer considering these prevention tools as paraphernalia.4 You can research state-by-state legality to find out more about access in your area online.
Nonprofits and Local Health Departments that Distribute Fentanyl Test Strips
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) granted federal funds in April 2021 to distribute fentanyl test strips at recovery and harm reduction centers to help prevent overdose.5
As a result of this grant, many local health departments and harm reduction centers now provide fentanyl test strips. You can check with your local health department for availability and information on where to buy fentanyl test strips in your community. You can also read about supervised consumption sites and where they currently operate in the US.
Buy Fentanyl Test Strips at CVS and Other Pharmacies
If fentanyl test strips aren’t available at your local health department and you are unsure where to buy fentanyl test strips, CVS and participating pharmacies often have them in stock. Depending on the legality in your state, fentanyl test strips can be purchased at certain pharmacies and online websites such as:
- CVS
- Walmart
- Ovus Medical
- Bunkpolice.com
- Dancesafe.com
- Meditests.com
- Amazon.com
How to Use Fentanyl Test Strips
Fentanyl test strips are simple to use, but the exact testing process varies by product. Always follow the instructions included with the specific test strips you have. Different products can require different amounts of the drug sample, water, testing time, and methods for interpreting results.
In general, a small sample of the drug is mixed with water and the test strip is placed into the resulting solution. The strip is then removed and the result is read according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Some strips use a line based result, but the meaning of the lines can vary by product, so do not assume that every test strip works the same way.
You need to test a representative sample of the drug because fentanyl may not be distributed evenly throughout the full drug supply. A negative result means the test did not detect fentanyl above the test’s detection threshold in the sample that was tested. It does not prove that the entire supply is free of fentanyl or that the drug is safe to use. Fentanyl test strips can also have limitations in detecting some fentanyl analogues and other synthetic opioids.
If a test produces a positive result, the safest option is not to use the drug. If someone chooses to use despite a positive or negative result, other harm reduction measures can reduce the risk of a fatal overdose. These include having naloxone available, avoiding using alone, and using a smaller amount than usual.
What Fentanyl Test Strips Are Used For
Fentanyl test strips are used to detect small amounts of fentanyl and prevent accidental overdose.
A study of a fentanyl test strip community-based distribution program in North Carolina indicated that 81% of people with access to FTS routinely tested their drugs before use. Those who received a positive test result were five times more likely to change their drug behaviors to reduce the risk of overdose.1
Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. Illicit fentanyl, which is often found in street drugs, is more dangerous than medical fentanyl and has an increased risk of overdose.5 Our full guide covers why fentanyl is so dangerous in an unregulated supply.
The DEA estimates that four out of every 10 counterfeit pills bought on the street or internet contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.6
Are Fentanyl Test Strips Effective?
Fentanyl test strips are effective. They can detect if a substance contains fentanyl, but they cannot detect the quantity or strength of the fentanyl. No fentanyl tests are 100% accurate. It is possible that your drugs could still contain fentanyl even if your test showed a negative result.2
Because fentanyl test strips are highly sensitive, they may show a positive result even with very small amounts of fentanyl that may just be present from drugs being packaged in the same area. That said, it is still a good idea to use them as a preventative measure.2
Fentanyl test strips can prevent overdose when used correctly and in combination with other overdose risk-reducing practices.2 This is important because there were approximately 88,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States between August 2019 to August 2020 alone.5
Treatments for Opioid and Fentanyl Misuse
Fentanyl misuse is dangerous and can be fatal. Users can quickly develop an opioid addiction and experience withdrawal symptoms if they try to quit or cut down on use. Fortunately, there are many forms of treatment available to help people overcome opioid addiction. Such treatments include: 7,8
- Individual counseling or psychotherapy: Individual therapy can help people identify their triggers for drug use and practice coping skills to maintain abstinence in the long term.
- Group counseling: Group therapy provides people with peer support throughout the therapeutic process.
- Family therapy: Family counseling helps those struggling with addiction to identify and shift family patterns that contribute to their drug use. It also helps family members to learn ways to support their loved ones in their recovery.
- Medication-assisted treatment: Medications such as methadone and Suboxone can help people to wean off opiates like fentanyl or heroin and return to normal functioning in their daily lives.
- 12-step programs and peer support groups: 12-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous help people recognize their inability to control their substance use, surrender to a higher power, and find recovery through the support of their peers. If 12-step programs do not resonate for you, a variety of non-12-step programs also exist to help those struggling with opioid misuse and addiction.
- Inpatient rehab: Inpatient rehab centers are residential facilities where patients reside 24-7 for a designated period, usually ranging from 30-90 days, but long-term facilities also exist where people will reside for six months to a year or longer. Residential facilities offer a combination of treatment modalities, including individual counseling, group therapy, family therapy, medication-assisted treatment, peer support groups, and sometimes, holistic therapies.
- Outpatient rehab: Outpatient rehab centers typically offer the same types of treatment modalities as inpatient rehab centers, but the treatment takes place on a part-time basis while patients continue to reside at home throughout the treatment process. Type, intensity, and frequency of treatment may vary depending on treatment goals, patient needs, and the treatment program.
If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid addiction, help is available. For more information on rehab facilities near you or where to buy fentanyl test strips, get help today by calling
800-914-7089
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Resources
- Connection Department of Public Health. Fentanyl Testing to Prevent Overdose.
- NYC Health. How to Test Your Drugs Using Fentanyl Test Strips.
- Texas Register (2018, May 4). Volume 43, 18. Pg 2639-2854.
- Legiscan. (2022, April 4). An Act to Amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-402, relative to testing equipment used to determine the presence of a synthetic opioid.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021, April 7). Federal Grantees May Now Use Funds to Purchase Fentanyl Test Strips.
- Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (2022. May 10). TDMHSAS Marks Fentanyl Awareness Day May 10th.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2016). Effective Treatments for Opioid Addiction.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (2018). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment.
