March 14, 2022 Group Watch: Lawmakers Pass Bill To Legalize Fentanyl Test Strips
The Alabama Legislature passed a bill to make it legal to use and distribute test strips that detect the presence of fentanyl in other drugs in an effort to prevent overdoses. Fentanyl is an addictive opioid far more potent than heroin that is often added to illegal street drugs. The Jefferson County Coroner’s office reported that 400 people died of overdoses in Jefferson County last year, shattering the previous record of 302 set in 2020. Fentanyl was a factor in 316 of the deaths last year. Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson urged lawmakers to approve the bill, a move that would follow changing federal guidelines and similar efforts in other states to increase the availability of test strips. It is estimated that the strips cost between $1 to $3.50 apiece, depending on the quantity bought. Federal agencies have approved the use of federal dollars to buy fentanyl tests for distribution.
