Officials are hoping new take-home fentanyl test strips will reduce the number of opioid overdoses in Kamloops and other Interior communities.

It’s as the test results from the strips have come is nearly as accurate as drug testing done on-site at supervised consumption sites or community health centres, with fentanyl positively identified around 89 per cent of the time in both instances.

“For many people, there’s a certain amount of shame associated with their addiction, which makes it challenging for them to access drug-checking services at health care facilities” said Roger Parsonage, Interior Health’s Executive Director of Clinical Operations. “With these take-home drug checking strips, they can now make informed, safer choices – this service has the potential to save lives.”

The fentanyl test strips will be available at community-based agencies in Kamloops, Merritt, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, Cranbrook, and Nelson.

“Take-home test strips are something clients have been asking for, and now we have some promising evidence for their use. This is one more tool among other strategies we have implemented to address the ongoing opioid overdose crisis,” added Jessica Bridgeman, IH’s Harm Reduction Coordinator.

“Take-home drug checking can be particularly helpful to those in rural and remote communities who may not have access to other overdose prevention services.”

Originally intended for urine drug tests, the use of fentanyl testing strips to check the drugs themselves for fentanyl was pioneered by Vancouver Coastal Health in 2016, revealing a positive or negative result within seconds.

“Giving people a simple, convenient way to check if their drugs contain fentanyl may help them avoid an overdose, and reduce the number of lives lost to the unpredictable and toxic drug supply.,” noted Judy Darcy, BC’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

IH officials say more information on agency locations and hours where you can pick up the strips are available online.

Photo via Interior Health