Image credit: Office of Addiction Services and Supports
by Travis McCullough
By now, surely you’ve heard of drug testing strips or reagent kits, whether via the media or through personal experience. The explosion of substances like fentanyl, xylazine, and nitazenes across global drug markets has made single-use testing strips a necessity in anyone’s harm reduction kit. What isn’t as apparent to some is how exactly we can go about getting our hands on these life-saving strips. Let’s take a quick look at the easiest ways to go about getting drug testing strips – either shipped to your door, or in person.
Testing strips vs. Reagent kits
At their core, testing strips and reagent kits pretty much do the same thing: they test for the presence of a certain substance. The difference lies in the information that they provide you with. Testing strips only indicate the presence or lack of one substance within a sample, whereas reagent kits can test for a variety of different substances simultaneously.
Reagent kits have been around since long before the synthetic opioid epidemic that we find ourselves in today. Chances are if you grew up around the rave scene or music festivals, you have heard of or used some form of reagent testing kit. Basically, you mix your sample in with a specific set of chemicals that will turn a certain color. Match this with the corresponding color in the instructions and voilà: you get your answer as to what drugs are present. Reagent kits can give you a reasonable idea of what is in the sample, especially if you have reason to believe that there could be more than one adulterant present. That said, you would need to use multiple different reagents to achieve an accurate result. These tests aren’t always the best option because they tend to be more bulky and require a more involved process to properly use, not to mention they are more expensive than single-use testing strips.
Testing strips aren’t a brand new invention, but they have become much more common among medical professionals and drug users over the past decade with the rise of synthetic opioids. The technology behind the fentanyl and xylazine test strips that we see today works almost exactly like a common urine drug screening does, except you don’t have to pee on these. They are inexpensive, portable, and give almost instant results. The only downside is that they only test for the presence of one substance or class of substances. For example, a negative result on a fentanyl test strip means that fentanyl isn’t present in the sample, but it doesn’t tell you about any of the other possible adulterants that may be present. Considering how prevalent fentanyl analogues and nitazenes have become in the US and how many overdoses have happened as a result, testing strips seem to be a more realistic course of action despite their shortcomings.
In a perfect world there would be places that offered FTIR or GCMS services for drug testing on every street corner, but these services are still few and far apart among harm reduction outreach programs because the equipment is expensive. We would also love to be able to offer free reagent testing kits to everyone in need, but they aren’t always practical as quick and effective harm reduction tools in certain situations. This is a significant reason that single-use testing strips have become the status quo in the harm reduction community when it comes to an affordable way to test drugs, hence we are choosing to focus our efforts on helping people who use drugs to obtain them.
Legality
Unfortunately, testing strips for things like fentanyl and xylazine are only legal in some (not all) US states. This is because they are considered drug paraphernalia in some states. You should always check the status of their legality before trying to obtain any so that you don’t put yourself in any hot water with law enforcement.
The Legislative Analysis And Public Policy Association (LAPPA) provides a thorough rundown of the laws in all 50 states plus the US minor outlying territories. If you are unsure about the laws in your state or would simply like to learn more about the subject, take a look at the January 2024 release of Drug Checking Equipment, Needles/Syringes, And Drug Paraphernalia: Summary Of State Laws (Pages 6-10 provide easy to read infographics that explain the legality, state by state).
Finding drug testing strips online
The internet is a great way to find testing strips for an affordable price. There are plenty of different businesses that sell them, so shopping around for a price that meets your budget is easier than ever.
Reddit and other online communities
As Bluelight users, we know the value of online forums and how they can hold a wealth of information pertaining to just about any subject. Reddit in particular is bursting at the seams with pages that relate to drug use and harm reduction. More specifically, the subreddit r/ReagentTesting has a long list of vendors, countries they ship to, and discount codes. It even specifies what type of products they offer including single-use testing strips, reagent kits, or both.
Don’t forget you can find the information that you need right here at Bluelight as well! Check out the International Harm Reduction Services Thread if you haven’t already. In addition to the resources we mention in this article, it provides links and information about other options as well. It even details a bunch of international resources if you live outside of the US or find yourself abroad and in need of harm reduction supplies.
Places like these are a great jumping-off point if you are completely in the woods when it comes to finding harm reduction services. The beauty of online communities like Bluelight or Reddit, is that they incorporate information from people across the globe. They can provide a more thorough overview and analysis of complex subjects, like harm reduction, that have potential legal ramifications depending on where you live.
Retailers
Believe it or not, Amazon, the world’s largest online marketplace, carries tons of different types of testing strips for various substances. The best part about Amazon is your ability to compare prices and international shipping. You can easily find fentanyl testing strips for under $1 a piece that will be delivered to your door in a matter of days.
You can also buy directly from organizations like the Bunk Police and DanceSafe. These companies offer individual testing strips as well as complete testing kits to help identify the purity of substances and any adulterants that might be present.
Non-profit organizations
More and more non-profits that aim to deliver harm reduction tools to those in need are popping up across the country. There are too many to list here, but a good place to start is the website of your local health department. Often they will provide links to NGOs like NEXT Distro who can either supply you with what you need or help connect you with an organization who can.
People who start NGOs are usually in it for the love of the game instead of money, so more often than not they will be happy to point you in the right direction for help if they don’t offer services in your area.
Government organizations
Since the fentanyl crisis in the US has reached a fever pitch, more and more state and local governments are receiving funding for distributing testing strips to residents for little to no cost. This isn’t the case nationwide yet, but places like New York and Denver offer delivery for things like naloxone, fentanyl tests, and xylazine testing strips.
With the number of accidental deaths attributable to contaminated drugs, it’s a wonder that programs like New York’s aren’t more commonplace, but hopefully more states will follow suit in the near future.
A quick Google search is the best way to find out if your area offers harm reduction supply deliveries. If your state does offer a similar service, you should see a link to the local health department for your area.
Finding drug testing strips locally
If you are in immediate need of harm reduction supplies, then your best bet is to contact one of the following groups of safe use advocates. Even if you live in a state that doesn’t offer government-run programs, there are plenty of private community-based organizations that can help as well.
North American Syringe Exchange Network (NASEN)
NASEN provides a directory of Syringe Services Programs across the United States. Their website offers an interactive map that shows locations of participating organizations that offer harm reduction supplies. It details an overview of each program, what services they provide, contact info, as well as operating hours.
Syringe Services Programs are an excellent way to access cheap or free drug testing strips, as well as other harm reduction supplies. Clean syringes, cookers, sterile water, filters, and much more can be found at participating locations. Not all locations will carry testing strips, but many of them will, so don’t be afraid to ask.
Local health departments
Depending on which state you live in, there’s a very good chance that the local health department has a program set up where people in need of harm reduction supplies can come to get the tools they need. Searching Google with the phrase “get fentanyl testing strips near me” will usually provide you with a link to a local health department’s website that will almost always offer locations where testing strips can be picked up in person.
Finding drug testing strips outside of the US
Unfortunately, we aren’t able to go through the available information for every single country out there. That being said, you can employ most of the same procedures listed above to get a better picture of how your country treats this subject. As a reminder, research your local drug paraphernalia laws before attempting to get your hands on drug testing strips.
Public programs
You’ve probably got a better idea of how drug use is viewed in your country than I do. If local lawmakers are sympathetic to the idea of harm reduction, you should start with the health department or your government’s equivalent thereof. If the government is willing to extend a helping hand, take it.
Private programs and Non-profits
Not everyone is lucky enough to live somewhere where the government is keen on distributing these supplies, in which case, you should turn to the private sector or NGOs.
Even though DanceSafe headquarters are in the US, they do ship internationally. As of the publication date of this article, DanceSafe is unable to ship to Mexico, Spain, Israel, Thailand, and China. Otherwise, DanceSafe offers multiple shipping options for just about anywhere on the planet. Just make sure to give their shipping page a peek before placing an order so you can get an idea of how long it will take.
Amazon also ships internationally, so check out their policies on what products can be shipped legally to your region.
Final thoughts
Regardless of how you feel about drug use, and even if you don’t use illicit drugs yourself, chances are that someone you know uses illicit substances. With the current landscape, it’s an extremely wise idea to have harm reduction supplies readily available. If you are a drug user, then things like naloxone and drug testing strips should be considered a necessity at this point. Even if drugs aren’t your thing, carrying these supplies could help save a stranger’s life. By making these supplies more common household items we can help dissolve the stigma surrounding drug use and make our communities safer.
Declaration Of Interest: While I have worked and volunteered with organizations in the past, I have no relevant interests to declare for this particular content.
Travis McCullough is a copywriter born and raised in Colorado. He has a BS in natural resources management and has worked with various government organizations related to outdoor conservation. Today he spends his time pursuing his passion for teaching those around him about the outdoors and how it can help with issues surrounding addiction.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, medical, or professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional regarding any questions you may have about drug use, harm reduction, or your health. Laws regarding drug use and online activity vary by location—ensure you understand the laws applicable to you before taking any action. Views expressed in the article are the author’s, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bluelight Communities Ltd.