Fentanyl test strip bill passes House, supported by law enforcement in Schuylkill County

Jul. 1—Local law enforcement say they are in support of a state House bill that decriminalizes fentanyl test strips with the goal of preventing overdoses.

"Anything that can be used to reduce overdose deaths I would be in support of," Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael A. O'Pake said Thursday.

The strips are considered drug paraphernalia presently in Pennsylvania.

Introduced by Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana, and passed by the House on June 20, House Bill 1393 would permit the use of the test strips to reduce deaths. The bill is now in the state Senate.

Fentanyl can be 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

A representative with Struzzi's office did not say how someone would detect the presence of fentanyl by using the test strips. However, the strips are typically dipped in water or urine to get results.

"This legislation will save lives," he said. "In 2021, there were 107,000 overdose deaths in the United States. Of those deaths, 71,000 were attributed to fentanyl."

The legislation would allow people to obtain fentanyl test strips that can be purchased now from places such as Amazon.

"All of us have been affected by overdoses, whether indirectly or directly through the loss of a family member or a loved one," Struzzi said from the House floor June 20. "And if we can give people a simple tool to give them a second chance, we need to do that."

O'Pake said county residents are dying after taking drugs unknowingly mixed with fentanyl.

"If it saves one person, it is effective enough for me," he said of the strips.

Pottsville Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said he supports the bill "because it provides an opportunity to save a life."

"It is undeniable fentanyl is currently the No. 1 cause of overdose deaths," he said. "And while some make the choice to use fentanyl in their throe of addiction, many more are unknowingly introducing the deadly drug into their system."

In 2021, 115 people died of drug-related causes in Schuylkill County. Fentanyl was found in 48 of them.

Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III said he would have to do more research on the test strips before commenting.

However, he said that fentanyl is being found in the bloodstream more often with other drugs when they test those who died.

Karen McCloskey, medication assisted therapy supervisor at Clinical Outcomes Group Inc., an outpatient drug and alcohol facility in Pottsville, said people are tested when they seek services. They use what is called an icup that tests for 12 different drugs, including fentanyl, heroin and morphine. Results are sent to a laboratory for analysis.

She also said use of the testing strips is a good step.

"Any tool we have is a benefit," she said.

Minersville Police Chief Michael Combs said saving even one life matters.

"It's just sad we have to consider these things," he said.

Contact the writer: amarchiano@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023