INDIANA – Fentanyl test strips, previously considered drug paraphernalia, are now officially legal in Indiana, a move aimed at combating the state’s escalating overdose crisis. The change comes after a bipartisan effort to pass House Enrolled Act No. 1167.
Recent data indicate that fentanyl is responsible for over 70 percent of overdose deaths in Indiana. Until this month, individuals found with these life-saving strips could face charges under state paraphernalia laws, with the decision resting on local prosecutors.
“Any resident should and can access test strips,” stated Breanna Hicks, Director of Harm Reduction at Overdose Lifeline. She explained that the former paraphernalia law ambiguously covered anything that tested “the ‘presence, efficacy or effectiveness of a substance, an illicit substance,'” creating a “gray area in law in jurisdictions across Indiana,” even though fentanyl test strips only detect presence.
Local harm reduction organizations actively advocated for this legislative change, citing that the previous law instilled fear in those trying to distribute the strips. Hicks refutes the “false narrative” that access to test strips encourages substance use, asserting that “harm reduction is a proven practice that allows for individuals to make healthier and better decisions”.
The small strips can detect the synthetic opioid in drugs purchased off the street within 30 seconds to two minutes when submerged in water. Fentanyl has been a major contributor to overdose fatalities, with the Marion County Coroner reporting its presence in over 90 percent of opioid overdoses in Indianapolis last year.
“Fentanyl overdoses are now the number one cause of death for anybody age 18 to 45,” Hicks emphasized, noting that Indiana falls within this range where fentanyl is the “most prevalent cause of accidental overdose death”.
Overdose Lifeline is one of the organizations distributing these crucial test strips. Residents can request strips by visiting their website.
