Ohio House votes to legalize fentanyl test strips

The Ohio House passed legislation Wednesday that would legalize the possession of test strips used to identify the presence of fentanyl in illicit drugs (Source: “Ohio House votes to decriminalize fentanyl test strips,” Nov. 30).

The policy is aimed at expanding access to the strips, a harm-reduction approach designed to reduce the near-record level of Ohioans who fatally overdose on opioids year over year.

For the last several years, experts have warned that fentanyl – a powerful synthetic opioid – has entered the drug supply and is driving increasing rates of fatal overdoses. It’s often present in drugs without the user’s knowledge. The test strips are a cheap (they cost roughly $1) means of ensuring people know what they’re taking. Current Ohio law, however, classifies them as “drug paraphernalia.” Possession of them can yield a fourth-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail.

The legislation passed in the House with just four votes in opposition. It now heads to the state Senate, which has been considering similar legislation.

Improving access to fentanyl test strips is one aspect of harm reduction, a public health strategy aimed at decreasing risks surrounding drug use as opposed to an abstinence-only approach. Other strategies, outlined in an HPIO policy brief last year, include increasing access to naloxone (an overdose reversal drug); expanding syringe exchange programs, which reduce risk of bloodborne diseases; and improving Good Samaritan laws, which provide legal shields to those who help people overdosing seek access to emergency care.