Jefferson County Well being Division hoping to distribute fentanyl testing strips after state approves new invoice

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The Jefferson County Well being Division is working to curb opioid deaths within the county after a new invoice permitting for fentanyl testing strips to be distributed was simply handed.

Jefferson County Coroner, Invoice Yates, stated there have been greater than 315 fentanyl deaths final 12 months within the county.

“Lots of people that aren’t intending to make use of an opioid are dying from fentanyl,” Jefferson County Well being Officer Dr. Mark Wilson stated. “On this previous 12 months, we have now been seeing it in different medicine like cocaine and meth. Even in a number of the tablets which are being traded on the road.”

However, The state’s legislature handed a brand new invoice to make it authorized to make use of and distribute check strips that detect the presence of fentanyl in different medicine. Earlier than this, you couldn’t check any unlawful medicine underneath paraphernalia legal guidelines. Wilson stated the following pointers can assist save lives and forestall drug use.

“It’s been proven in different states that research this, drug customers who’ve these check strips and use them they usually detect fentanyl, they’re truly extra more likely to alter their habits. They won’t use the drug, use much less of it, or no less than use it extra fastidiously.”

These against the brand new invoice stated providing testing strips encourages drug use, however Wilson stated it’s extra more likely to get addicts into remedy.

“We imagine participating folks with help like this, exhibiting them that we care in the event that they survive, improves the probabilities of them coming to get remedy,” Wilson stated.

He stated the well being division plans to manage them as quickly because the invoice turns into legislation, someday in early June. They’ll go into their drug rescue kits.

“You’ll be able to truly order these on-line, they aren’t very costly,” Wilson stated. “Embrace these with our naloxone rescue kits.”

Wilson stated you possibly can order one of many county’s drug rescue kits on-line. Click on right here.

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