How Can I Stop an Overdose? Fentanyl Test Strips
How Can I Stop an Overdose? Fentanyl Test Strips
💀🇺🇸In the United States, the CDC names Fentanyl as the deadliest drug in America, associated with the most deaths in the adult population. Compared to strong opioids, such as oxycodone or morphine, fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent. Recently, there has been an increase in fatal overdoses from other substances laced with fentanyl💊
🌬Due to the high potency of fentanyl, an amount comparable to a few grains of salt can induce a fatal overdose. Fentanyl overdose results in muscle rigidity and airway compromise termed “wooden chest syndrome.” Symptoms of overdose to look out for include lip discoloration(blue), mouth foaming, body stiffening, or confusion👄
💧🧂Since a miniscule amount can cause harm, it is ~essential to test drugs~ for fentanyl! Using a small sample (1-2mg) of a recreational drug (Cocaine, MDMA, Xanax, etc.) dissolved in about 2 teaspoons of water, trace amounts of Fentanyl can be detected with Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS)🚰
⬜️To use the fentanyl test strips, dip the white end in the water for 15 seconds while holding the blue end. After drying for 5 minutes, the presence of fentanyl is indicated with one colored band❗️A negative test displays two colored bands‼️
➕🧠When a test strip result is positive, research has found that users changed their drug use behavior. As a result, participants are more likely to dispose of the drug, not use the drug alone, and have Naloxone nearby👃
🌮In the upcoming weeks, TACO will begin distributing free fentanyl test strips to the USC community. In addition, here are some Los Angeles locations to get fentanyl testing strips:
⭐️Wilshire Dental Clinic (Downtown LA)
⭐️The David Geffen Center (Koreatown)
⭐️Gleicher/Chen Health Center (Baldwin Hills)
⭐️Education Center (Baldwin Hills)
⭐️Long Beach Health Center (Long Beach)
⭐️APLA Health- Olympic (Miracle Mile/Carthay Circle)
