Pressure from advocates to make fentanyl testing strips more accessible in Georgia

ATLANTA — A invoice is ready for Governor Brian Kemp’s signature to extend entry to drug testing strips, one thing advocates mentioned might save lives with the variety of individuals dying from a fentanyl-related overdose surging in Georgia for the reason that begin of the pandemic.

The plan to extend entry comes from the White Home to deal with the epidemic, and Kemp has till Could 14th to signal or veto the invoice.

“Fentanyl strips and Narcan are the one-two punch to save lots of lives in Georgia,” Jeff Breedlove, a recovering addict who works with the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, mentioned. “When you love anyone on the market, and also you suppose they’re in energetic habit, you need them to have as many fentanyl strips of their possession as they presumably can.”

Whereas Narcan is out there in lots of pharmacies in Georgia, that is not the case for drug testing strips. The push for elevated entry to fast-acting strips follows a spike in overdose deaths in Georgia for the reason that pandemic.

 In response to the Georgia Division of Public Well being, fentanyl-related overdose deaths within the state elevated greater than 106% between Could 2020 and April 2021 in comparison with the identical time the earlier yr. 

State officers warn that fentanyl-laced medication cannot be detected by sight or odor, and even a small quantity can result in an overdose.

But, fentanyl take a look at strips can detect the presence of the artificial opioid, probably deterring somebody from utilizing it earlier than it is too late.

“For me, it truly is about how can we stop deaths,” State Senator Jen Jordan mentioned. “How can we convey that quantity down?”

Whereas the take a look at strips could be discovered on-line, Jordan defined that the drug testing know-how might nonetheless technically be thought-about drug paraphernalia underneath Georgia legislation, a authorized grey space she’s working to vary.

“It turned clear to me we needed to do one thing in Georgia,” Jordan mentioned. “If nothing else simply to attempt to defend children who could also be experimenting with medication and haven’t any clue what they’re coping with.”

Jordan hopes revising state legislation might make fentanyl take a look at strips as straightforward to have as Narcan. Whereas critics argue the transfer would allow customers, physicians like Dr. Sara Polley, Medical Director for Nationwide Youth Continuum for the Hazelden Betty Ford Basis, mentioned such harm-reduction instruments are supposed to save lots of lives and purchase time to get individuals into remedy.

“It is a actually lethal epidemic that we’re dealing with proper now, and we would like to have the ability to assist individuals to make more healthy selections for his or her life,” Polley, who lately joined the 2023 RX Summit in Atlanta to debate prevention, remedy and restoration methods, mentioned. “However we have to hold them alive with a purpose to interact them in remedy, and so this can be a step to have the ability to do this whereas we work in direction of reducing individuals’s use of opioids and different illicit substances.”

In the meantime, Jordan’s measure falls underneath HB 1175, often known as the Georgia Uncooked Dairy Act. The supply would make “any testing tools used to find out whether or not a managed substance has been adulterated and incorporates an artificial opioid” not a drug-related object. 

“We’re shedding too many individuals,” Jordan mentioned. “We’re shedding too many individuals on this state to overdoses which can be completely and instantly linked to fentanyl.” 

Signs of an opioid overdose embrace: 

• Unconsciousness, or incapability to get up
• Limp physique 
• Falling asleep, excessive drowsiness
• Gradual, shallow, irregular or no respiration
• Pale, blue, chilly and/or clammy pores and skin
• Choking, loud night breathing or gurgling sounds
• Gradual or no heartbeat 

When you suspect a drug overdose, name 911 instantly, present the situation of the overdose and stick with the person till assist arrives. Georgia has a medical amnesty legislation that protects people who could also be experiencing an overdose and callers looking for medical consideration for drug overdoses. Naloxone reverses the consequences of an opioid overdose and could be obtained from pharmacies in Georgia with out a prescription underneath a standing order from the Commissioner. Drug prevention and restoration are potential with the suitable assist. For entry to companies and fast disaster assist, the Georgia Disaster & Entry Line 1-800-715-4225 is out there 24/7.