It can be found in the illicit drug market and is being mixed with other illicitly manufactured opioids like heroin, in pressed pills, cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamines to increase their potency. Because of how potent it is, it can significantly increase the risk of overdose. Based on data from National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) and the CFSRE’s NPS Discovery program (an open-access drug early warning system), there was a 705% increase in IMF–lidocaine codetections from 2022 to 2024. By December 2024, nearly 30% of IMF samples contained multiple anesthetic agents. Yet traditional fentanyl test strips do not detect these adulterants, giving users a false sense of security. The lower concentration of fentanyl among xylazine-positive samples is also notable.
- She pointed me to a report covering January 2023 to April 2025 showing that most nitrazene overdoses occurred in the southeastern region of the United States.
- The search strategy comprised both controlled vocabulary, such as the National Library of Medicine’s MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), and keywords.
- Regular alerts updated the database literature searches until the publication of the final report.
- As the illicit drug market continues to change, the importance of having a test strip that can reliably detect a multitude of substances is extremely important.
Overdose Lifeline solo puede proporcionar naloxona a los residentes de Indiana.
Please contact us for scheduling and resources at email protected. Xylazine, aka ‘tranq’ or ‘tranq dope,’ is a non-opioid sedative approved for animal use but not safe for humans. Xylazine test strips can detect xylazine in other drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, or fentanyl. The Rapid Response™ Nitazene Test Strip (Liquid/Powder) is a rapid visual immunoassay for the qualitative, presumptive detection of Nitazene in suspicious substances (liquids or powders) at the cut-off concentration of 2000 ng/mL. The Rapid Response™ Medetomidine Test Strip (Liquid/Powder) is an easy to use, cost-effective dipstick test. It is a rapid, qualitative screening test that quickly and reliably detects medetomidine at cut-off levels above 1000 ng/mL.
Naloxone Co-Payment Assistance Program
These strips are one way to help prevent drug overdose and reduce harm. Unlike abstinence-only approaches, harm reduction meets individuals where they are, providing practical tools to minimize risks. Redemption Recovery integrates these strategies to ensure a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment and prevention. These substances are frequently undetectable in illicit drugs, leaving users unaware of the dangers lurking in a single dose. WiseBatch test strips have been rigorously examined for their capabilities in drug checking and are highly effective at detecting substances in trace amounts.
- In a national survey of 1,515 adults conducted in June 2024, 166 respondents (11.0%) reported illicit opioid use and 114 (7.5%) reported illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) use within the past 12 months.
- However, accuracy can be affected by improper sample collection, contamination, or expired strips.
- “Overdoses are one of the things we are thinking about,” Green said.
- Only a subset of samples had quantification results available, which included samples processed starting in 2023 Q3, for which sufficient sample mass was provided by participants (approximately 5 mg, or half of a 10 mg microscoop).
What Makes Today’s Fentanyl Supply Different?
Yes, pregnancy test strips detect hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in urine, which indicates pregnancy. However, accuracy can be affected by improper sample collection, contamination, or expired strips. American Screening Corp is one of the leading manufacturer and distributor of Urine Test Strips in USA.
Words matter when engaging with people with substance use and substance use disorder. Take the person-centered approach when speaking to your clients and create an inviting space for an open conversation on substance use. Overdose prevention and intervention education should be done with all individuals regardless of substance use disorder diagnosis, last date of use, or intended substance of use. Specialists are waiting for your call to lend an ear or give advice if you want it. You may be eligible to receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs for naloxone through the Department of Aging’s Naloxone Copay Assistance Program. You can also use your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to buy naloxone.
TN Scientific Fentanyl & Xylazine Drug Test Strip Kits Choose Your Quanty
Dean Dr. Linda Cottler about National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) insights on nitrazenes. She pointed me to fentanyl and xylazine test strips a report covering January 2023 to April 2025 showing that most nitrazene overdoses occurred in the southeastern region of the United States. Dr Cottler said the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s (UNC) Street Drug Analysis Lab detected nitrazenes in 135 samples from 14 states as of the end of April 2025. Yet labs often miss these drugs because they are either not tested for or are present in tiny amounts.
However, there is great potential value in quantifying the percent concentration of xylazine in illicit fentanyl samples, for improved estimation of exposure among people who use drugs. These results plus the findings from the study in Philadelphia suggest the BTNX test strips are a good tool for drug checking programs. Contaminants including fentanyl and fentanyl analogs are now present in the illicit drug supply throughout the U.S. Because no safe supply of most illicitly used drugs is available, helping people determine what is in the drugs they obtain can be an impactful harm reduction intervention.
More than 80 per cent of drugs sold as heroin on the streets of Vancouver don’t contain any heroin at all, while nearly all of them contain the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl. In 2016, drug overdose deaths exceeded 64,000 in the United States, driven by a sixfold increase in deaths attributable to illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Fentanyl and xylazine test strips are simple but powerful tools in the fight against the opioid crisis.
Drug test strips detect the presence of these additives in the unregulated drug supply. Overdose rates have increased significantly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designed to reverse opioid overdose rapidly. It is an opioid antagonist—meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids, such as heroin, illicitly manufactured fentanyl and its analogues, morphine, oxycodone, and the nitazene analogues. The test strips were approved for use in Canada in April 2023 for the detection of xylazine in urine samples.1 They are also available for use as a consumer product for drug checking purposes.
RESOURCES
The laboratory methodologies employed here have been previously described (Appley et al., 2023, Sisco et al., 2017). Briefly, DART-MS spectra were analyzed against libraries of over 1300 substances, including pharmaceutical and illicit drugs, adulterants, cutting and bulking agents, precursor chemicals, and other substances (e.g., adhesives, food products, etc.). The LC-MS quantification panel included xylazine, fentanyl, fentanyl precursor chemicals, other illicit drugs, and common adulterants.