ASHP opposes the recent decision by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to end the use of federal funds to purchase fentanyl test strips or other substance test kits, including xylazine and medetomidine test strips, that are distributed for individual use.
Tom Kraus, ASHP vice president of government relations, noted that multiple studies show fentanyl test strips reduce overdose deaths.
“Pharmacists should not be prevented from providing access to harm-reduction tools that reduce the risk of overdose,” Kraus said.
ASHP’s House of Delegates has developed clear policy regarding access to test strips:
- To affirm that fentanyl test strips (FTS) have a place in harm reduction strategies for people who use drugs; further,
- To support legislation that declassifies FTS as drug paraphernalia; further,
- To promote public availability of and access to FTS, including zero-cost options; further,
- To support the pharmacy workforce in their roles as essential members of the healthcare team in educating the public and healthcare providers about the role of FTS in public health efforts.
While the SAMHSA policy does not prevent healthcare professionals from using test strips when caring for patients, ASHP is concerned that limiting distribution for individual use by patients could reduce the effectiveness of overdose prevention efforts.
