Fentanyl Test Strips: A Vital Tool in Australia's Pending Fentanyl Crisis

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid responsible for over 73,000 overdose deaths in the US in 2022. While not yet a widespread crisis in Australia, recent fentanyl seizures by the Australian Federal Police underscore the urgent need for proactive measures. In recent years, NSW Health has warned about the alarming rate of fentanyl circulating in Sydney. Amidst this potential crisis, a simple but powerful tool has emerged: fentanyl test strips.

It is near impossible to discuss the drug landscape today without the mention of one word: fentanyl. 

The drug is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, and experts warn that it is increasingly being found in - or en route to - Australia. 

Is Australia facing a fentanyl crisis in our future? And are we prepared for if or when it arrives on our shores?

Law enforcement and drug law reformers have been warning for years, that fentanyl will come to Australia.

At Drug Policy Australia, we advocate for ensuring the Australian public is equipped with the information needed to make well-informed choices about what they use, so let’s make this clear.

Fentanyl is very dangerous.

Everyone is familiar with heroin, cocaine, and morphine. Commonly demonised and at times glamorised, these organic substances have been used and readily available for decades. However, recently a synthetic opioid, fentanyl, has seen increased use globally, both medically and recreationally.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid made from readily available chemical precursors is typically used to treat severe and chronic pain in cancer patients. In 2006, fentanyl became more widely available when the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme expanded the approved use of fentanyl for other chronic pain, including nerve damage and major trauma. Unfortunately, whilst this novel form of pain relief may have its benefits, the expansion of the use of fentanyl began an ever-increasing trend of dangerous use and harmful consequences.

Fentanyl Testing Strips Available. Free Postage Anywhere in Australia