An Ohio House committee has given the go-ahead to a measure decriminalizing the possession of fentanyl testing strips.
The following article was originally published in the Ohio Capital Journal and published on News5Cleveland.com under a content-sharing agreement.The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Kristin Boggs, D-Columbus, described the change as “one more avenue” to avoid overdose when she introduced the bill in May. Many people would test their drugs, she argued, if given the chance. And knowing what they’re taking could avert unintentional overdoses.
In her testimony, Boggs noted that in 2019, 76% percent of overdose deaths involve fentanyl. In 2020 that ticked higher, to 81%.One significant problem, Boggs and other advocates contend, is uncertainty about the content of illicit drugs. “It takes a very small amount to cause a lethal overdose,” she said. “Even more concerning is the fact that fentanyl is often being mixed into other drugs without the user’s knowledge.”“By increasing access to harm reduction tools such as fentanyl test strips, we are acknowledging that drug use is a part of our society, and we are working to decrease its negative consequences using evidence-based strategies,” she explained.
“Harm reduction does not enable drug use, and it does not increase drug use,” Schmuhl added, seeming to preempt those concerns. “Harm reduction keeps people alive, and provides critical access to the health care system for a patient population that often does not seek care due to fear and stigma.”The measure passed committee without opposition, and House leaders have it teed up to appear before the whole chamber Wednesday.
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