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Imagine you’re hanging out with your friends, eating pizza, and watching movies. Suddenly, one of your friends starts to not feel well. They end up passing out as some of your other friends also say they’re not feeling the greatest. Unbeknownst to them, the source of their illness is the pizza they just ate. This situation is much like what can happen when people unknowingly consume fentanyl while engaging in substance use.
Is there a way to prevent this?
As one of the oldest non-profit rehab centers in the state of Oregon, our team at Serenity Lane has seen exactly how substance use can impact a community. Today we’re going to look at fentanyl testing and teach you how to test for fentanyl.
As you might be able to ascertain from the name alone, fentanyl testing is the process of testing a substance to see if it contains fentanyl. This is done via tests designed specifically to look for the chemical components of fentanyl in a substance. They work very similarly to that of a Covid testing strip, with red lines that slowly appear informing you if the results are positive or negative.
You may wonder if you need to use a fentanyl test to see if your substance contains fentanyl and the short answer is yes.
Fentanyl isn’t detectable with the naked eye in the vast majority of substances it could be present in. Since it is a white, powder substance it easily blends into things like cocaine, meth, and heroin. Other substances, like marijuana for example, have rarely seen cases of fentanyl being laced within them. Here in states like Oregon, since marijuana is legalized, as long as you get it from a reputable source you don’t have to worry about the risk of fentanyl-laced weed.
Since you cannot use sight, smell, or taste to determine the presence of fentanyl, you must utilize a fentanyl test strip. These can be easily purchased online in states where they are legal, such as Oregon. In some cases, you might also be able to find facilities that distribute them for free.
The fentanyl test strips will come with clear instructions so you can ensure you test your substance properly. One thing to note, however, is that sometimes a negative test can be misleading. Fentanyl isn’t always evenly distributed throughout a substance, meaning that just because one portion of the substance is fentanyl-free, doesn’t ensure that the whole substance is.
Fentanyl-related overdoses are on the rise here in Oregon. Oregon went from being the 36th highest fentanyl-related death count amongst the states to the 17th highest in recent years. One of the leading causes of death related to fentanyl comes specifically from fentanyl-lacing.
When someone unknowingly takes a product that contains fentanyl, they aren’t aware of the high potency of what they’re consuming. Fentanyl is over 50 times more potent than morphine. If someone were to unknowingly take their "usual" dosage of a substance such as fentanyl-laced cocaine, they can easily take too much and overdose as a result.
This is where the importance of fentanyl testing comes into play. Illicit substances are not regulated, meaning you can never be certain what is within them. Fentanyl testing ensures that you won’t unknowingly take a substance that contains fentanyl. Additionally, fentanyl test strips help reduce overdose rates, which can increase the chances of people being able to access recovery in the future.
While any substance could have fentanyl within it, some substances are more frequently found with fentanyl than others. These primarily consist of popular substances as well as expensive ones – let’s talk about why.
Fentanyl is a fully synthetic form of opioid. It’s cheap and easy to make, which is why many drug dealers will add fentanyl to their products. It helps increase their profits while not diminishing the high that people will experience. This is why it’s so often laced in other substances.
The most common instances of fentanyl being found in other substances include things like benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin. It more easily blends into pills and powdered substances.
Not every state has legalized the easy access and distribution of fentanyl test strips. Oregon, however, is not one of those states. If you want to get access to fentanyl test strips, how can you go about it?
Some states have programs dedicated specifically to the distribution of fentanyl test strips, in order to reduce the rates of overdoses in the state. While there isn’t such an organization currently in Oregon, there are still common places you can check for fentanyl test strips if you don’t wish to buy them online.
Often universities and rehab centers have access to resources such as fentanyl testing strips. Hospitals and pharmacies can also be reliable places to inquire about them if they don’t already have them on hand themselves.
So you decided to invest in fentanyl test strips and recently used them to test a substance you had. It comes back positive. Now what do you do?
The safest thing for you to do is to not consume that substance. Not only can it be a risk to your life, but it could also lead to the potential development of an opioid use disorder. Opioids are the leading cause of drug-related deaths in the country.
In some instances, you might be determined to simply dispose of the substance in question. One thing we want to stress is the importance of not flushing them down the toilet or the drain. This can contaminate the water supply for others, or potentially poison wildlife depending on where the water is dumped out.
Some police stations do have anonymous drop-offs for people wishing to dispose of illicit substances. You may also find resources for this at needle exchange sites. Rehab centers, as well, will be able to assist you in taking the steps toward the safe disposal of illicit substances.
If you’re reading this article because you’re concerned about stumbling across fentanyl, it might be time to consider the options that will guarantee you never encounter it – recovery. It can seem daunting, to imagine making a change to your life, but there are many amazing teams out there who can help you the entire way.
When it comes to finding a quality program in Oregon that helps you treat your substance use disorder and fentanyl addiction, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Depending on the substance or substances you’re seeking recovery from, having a place that offers a detox program and a fentanyl addiction treatment program can be helpful. Not all withdrawals are created equal and some benefit from a detox program more than others.
Next, you’ll want to know if a place offers inpatient services, outpatient services, or both. Starting in inpatient allows you to be in a space dedicated to healing, where you only have to focus on your recovery. Outpatient services can be a great follow-up to inpatient, or be a starting point on their own for those who need to be at home or continue working during recovery.
No matter your history of substance use, Serenity Lane is here to help. Our team of expert-level medical professionals is ready to assist you on your journey of recovery. We’ll help ensure you find a healing path that suits your needs, giving you support every step of the way. There’s no wrong time to call, so reach out today at 800-543-9905 and we’ll help you get started.
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