Dallas City Wire

WASHINGTON – On June 16, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) announced the introduction of a bill that would boost the amount of federal funding available to states and tribes to purchase fentanyl testing strips. The Test Strip Access Act would amend the 21st Century Cures Act to include grants for the implementation of overdose prevention programs with respect to fentanyl and xylazine test strips.

This comes after the introduction of Rep. Crockett's bipartisan STRIP Act, which would exempt the possession, sale, or purchase of fentanyl testing equipment, including test strips, from the federal drug paraphernalia law. Introduced with Texas Republican Rep. Lance Gooden, the bill now boasts 43 cosponsors and has the endorsement of 10 state and national advocacy groups:

• National District Attorney’s Association
• National Legal Aid & Defender’s Association
• National Alliance of Mental Illness
• Texas Pain Society
• Drug Policy Alliance
• Texas Center for Justice and Equity
• Texas Harm Reduction Alliance
• People’s Action
• Students for Sensible Drug Policy
• Major Cities Chiefs Association

"After years of work by substance abuse disorder survivors, advocates, and legislators, we are starting to see states finally recognize the life-saving power of fentanyl testing strips and other harm reduction interventions," said Rep. Crockett. “The War on Drugs has proven that we can't arrest our way out of a drug crisis. Improving access to fentanyl testing strips is one important way we as federal legislators can save lives. With the introduction of my Test Strip Access Act and bipartisan momentum building for our STRIP Act, it is clear that the will and determination exists for meaningful action to address the opioid crisis."

"Legalizing fentanyl test strips is an important part of fighting against America’s drug crisis,” said Representative Gooden. “This legislation will provide every American with the ability to protect themselves against the scourge of laced prescription drugs.”

In 2021, the CDC reported that more than 71,000 overdose deaths were attributed to synthetic opioids (fentanyl). Moreover, a 2022 study by the American Medical Association found that fatal overdoses among adolescents increased by 94% from 2019 to 2020, with Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Latinos representing some of the highest rates.

Full text of the bill here

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Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett represents portions of Dallas and Tarrant Counties, with the cities of Dallas, Grand Prairie, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Duncanville, Glenn Heights, Hutchins, Wilmer, Arlington, Ovilla, and Seagoville.

Original source can be found here.