ReVIDA Recovery® Duffield Explains How to Use Fentanyl Test Strips

ReVIDA Recovery® Duffield, an addiction treatment center in Duffield, VA, has recently published a blog post titled, “How to Use Fentanyl Test Strips.”

ReVIDA Recovery® Duffield, an addiction treatment center in Duffield, VA, has recently published a blog post titled, “How to Use Fentanyl Test Strips.” This is to offer a solution to the increase of overdose deaths, which have increased in Appalachia over the years. Sixty-nine percent of all overdose fatalities are caused by opioids. More and more dealers are mixing fentanyl with other illicit drugs, like cocaine or heroin. The problem is that fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than other opioids, which makes it easy to overdose on. Fentanyl test strips can be used to detect fentanyl, which otherwise can’t be detected because it is tasteless, odorless, and can dissolve in liquid.

“Fentanyl test strips are a way for anyone to test whether or not fentanyl is present in a substance – right from home. They’re easy to get and inexpensive. You can find them through your university health office, your Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for your county, most doctor’s offices, online through Amazon, and even at some local businesses like coffee shops or laundromats. Up until recently, fentanyl test strips were still illegal in many states because they were considered to be drug paraphernalia. Thankfully, most states now allow the sale and purchasing of these strips because they fall under the umbrella of harm-reduction treatment strategies,” the article states.

Using the fentanyl strips requires five simple steps. The first step is to place a small amount of the substance in a clean and dry container. The CDC recommends testing about 10 mg of the substance. The second step is to add one-half teaspoon of water into said container and then mix until the substance is dissolved in the water. The third step is to put the wavy side of the test strip face down into the container and let it remain there for 15 seconds. The fourth step is to take the test strip out of the container and set it down on a table, desk, or any flat surface, and wait for five minutes. Finally, after five minutes, the test strip is ready to provide the results.

A positive result is indicated by a single pink line on the left of the test strip. This means fentanyl is present in the substance. While it might be tempting to use only a small quantity of the substance despite the presence of fentanyl, this is not advisable. This is because there is no way to know exactly the amount of fentanyl present in the substance, which means there is a danger of getting a fentanyl overdose or severe side effects just from that small amount.

A negative result is indicated by two pink lines on the strip. However, if there are no lines at all or one pink line is present on the right side of the strip instead of on the left, the test results are invalid.

It is important to note that the fentanyl test strips are intended to prevent a fentanyl overdose. If someone is currently managing a substance use disorder, the professionals at ReVIDA Recovery® can help. The article says, “We have seen firsthand how effective evidence-based substance use and fentanyl addiction treatment can be. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been taking your substance of choice or how impossible it feels to stop right now – recovery is always possible.”

Launched in 2018, ReVIDA Recovery® provides comprehensive behavioral healthcare services, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. Their goal is to enable each patient to reclaim the life they once had before addiction. The ReVIDA® team is always ready to provide guidance for the recovering patient to return to their former quality of life. They are focused on the patient’s goals and health while supporting those managing an addiction.

Those who are interested in the addiction treatment services provided by ReVIDA Recovery® Duffield can visit their website or contact them by phone at 276-730-1963.