Bill that decriminalizes fentanyl test strips gets signed into law - WCHS

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — State lawmakers have been working to stem the destruction caused by opioids, in particular those mixed with fentanyl.

Gov. Jim Justice just signed HB 4373 into law that aims to reduce fentanyl deaths.

The bill takes fentanyl test strips off the list of criminalized drug paraphernalia, and officials said if put into the right hands, the strips could help prevent some overdose deaths.

"Making it legal to have these test strips will prevent a lot of needless overdose deaths and save a lot of time and effort of our first responders," Del. Mike Pushkin said.

The test strips work by mixing a small amount of the drug into water. The strip then indicates whether there is or is not fentanyl present.

Pushkin said HB 4373 had bipartisan support.

"Too often, people who make that bad decision in the first place make an even worse decision without knowing about it because they're getting something that's even more deadly than what they bargained for," Pushkin said.

Drug overdoses in West Virginia rose to a new high in 2021 to 1,607 as of last April. The number dropped to 1,526 as of October 2021.

Haley Walker runs Rae of Hope, a sober living facility in Charleston. She said she supports the use of fentanyl test strips.

"Something like this that helps them know what they're doing with their next drug and keeps them from overdosing, I would absolutely want them to not have a fear of having those, possibly going to jail because they have those on them," Walker said.

The law will go into effect on June 10.

source: https://wchstv.com/news/local/bill-that-decriminalizes-fentanyl-test-strips-gets-signed-into-law

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