A invoice on its means by means of the Capitol goals to make unlawful substances safer. The invoice, HB 1987, will clearly outline whether or not fentanyl testing strips are thought-about drug paraphernalia.
Right now, prosecutors might argue both means if somebody caught with the testing strips had drug paraphernalia on them. HB 1987 would make the grey space slightly extra black and white, and the writer’s hope is it’s going to assist maintain those that attempt to get clear, alive.
Overdose calls are ones first responders reply all too typically.
“Hospitals in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa area are full of patients. Seven to ten patients on an average night that are in there from an overdose of some type of opiate and in many cases, it ended up being fentanyl,” defined Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Spokesman, Mark Woodward.
At any given week the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics has a number of investigations that look into fentanyl brought on overdoses, Woodward mentioned.
The invoice’s writer, Representative Mickey Dollens mentioned the state has already legalized Narcan use and has a needle change program to assist fight opioid habit. Clarifying the legality round fentanyl testing strips through HB 1987 is the following logical step.
“To make sure that those are taking drugs, which we don’t condone, at least are taking what they think they are,” mentioned Rep. Dollens. “You take a check strip and dip it in and after 15 seconds it should provide you with a destructive or constructive outcome. That 15 seconds could be the distinction between life and demise.”
As it stands now, the test strips legality is in the eye of the beholder; but a clear definition of them as legal for personal use could make litigation shy non-profits take up arms and put them to use.
“They [non-profits] mentioned that if it had been clear and in statute, they may begin shopping for the fentanyl testing strips and handing them out,” mentioned Rep. Dollens.
One concern OBN has is the strips might give customers a false sense of safety as a result of the fentanyl check strip doesn’t all the time present that it’s current, which can result in an overdose.
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