PDAA Supports Greater Use of Fentanyl Test Strips to Save Lives

HARRISBURG – Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, PDAA’s legislative chair, today testified before the House Judiciary Committee in support of efforts to ensure the lawful use of fentanyl test strips.

“We support such legislation for one simple reason: It will literally save lives,” Chardo said.

Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin. It also is inexpensive to manufacture. Chardo said the drug is being disguised as heroin and being mixed with other drugs. He added that many who overdose from fentanyl did not know they were using it.

“They thought they were using heroin, or cocaine, or even marijuana. Utterly frightening and tragic,” Chardo said.

PDAA supports measures to clearly designate fentanyl test strips as lawful and not covered under the drug paraphernalia statute. This would allow individuals and drug treatment organizations to know that having and using the test strips is lawful.

Researchers and law enforcement officials report that test strips are accurate in detecting fentanyl before ingestion. Chardo said fentanyl test strips are a good tool in preventing opioid overdoses.

Read the full testimony here.