A New Approach to the Fentanyl Crisis

The way we’re currently fighting the fentanyl crisis isn’t working. Americans are dying due to these drugs in shocking numbers: nearly 73,000 Americans died due to fentanyl-related overdose just in 2023. Our strategy, which often relies on tools like Narcan and basic test strips, is falling behind the rapidly changing nature of illegal drugs. On the streets, fentanyl isn’t just one drug—it’s being mixed with other, far more dangerous substances that are leading to an unprecedented number of overdose deaths. These drugs are being designed and re-designed to kill Americans. We’ll need to constantly think and re-think the tools we’ll use to fight back.

The United States has spent billions on “harm reduction” programs, but many of these efforts are based on outdated knowledge. What started as a prescription drug problem has turned into an epidemic of synthetic poisons, including xylazine, nitazenes, and carfentanil. These drugs are more potent and complex, making our traditional tools less effective.

Narcan, a life-saving drug that can reverse an opioid overdose, is a great example. It’s an important tool, but its effectiveness is being challenged. For instance, the DEA reports that nearly half of all street fentanyl samples now contain xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that Narcan can’t reverse. On top of that, new drugs like nitazenes and carfentanil are so strong—many times more potent than fentanyl—that a single dose of Narcan might not be enough to save a life.

Another major flaw in the current strategy is the widespread use of basic fentanyl test strips. While they seem like a good idea, most of them have two big problems. First, they require people to dissolve their entire drug sample to test it, which many users are unwilling to do. Second, these strips are designed to only detect very large, often lethal, amounts of fentanyl. This means they can miss the small, deadly amounts that are enough to kill a person. The reality is, these strips often provide a false sense of security.

The good news is that better solutions exist. Take, for example, the A47 test strips. They are designed to solve the common problems with traditional tests. Unlike other strips, the A47 allows a user to test a drug without destroying the whole sample. More importantly, it is sensitive enough to detect dangerous, microgram amounts of fentanyl, as well as other deadly substances like nitazenes and xylazine, which most other tests miss. This makes it a tool that can truly meet the reality of today’s evolving drug supply.

We have the technology and the resources to fight this crisis more effectively. The money recovered from settlements with pharmaceutical companies was meant to fund new solutions, but much of it is being poured back into the same failing strategies. If we’re serious about saving lives, we need to be willing to adopt new, proven methods that directly address the lethal cocktail of drugs that is killing so many Americans. It’s time for a new approach that matches the grim reality of this evolving – and escalating – crisis.