Fentanyl test strips now legal in Arkansas

A new preventative measure has hit the shelves in Northeast Arkansas.

The Fentanyl Enforcement and Accountability Act was passed in 2023, legalizing test strips that were previously classified as “drug paraphernalia.”

“FTS are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of Fentanyl in all different kinds of drugs and drug forms,” according to the CDC. Some of the drugs include cocaine, meth, and heroin.

Substance Abuse Counselor in Training Jennifer Long with Revivl Counseling Center said the fentanyl epidemic is increasing by the day.

We are losing so many loved ones, even in our community,” Long said.

Long said to use the strips, users can take a sample of a drug and then mix it with water.

“They dip the strip in and it will tell you whether or not it is positive or negative for fentanyl,” Long said.

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