Metro Drug Coalition now distributing fentanyl test strips

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — East Tennessee has a new tool to combat the overdose crisis. Metro Drug Coalition is handing out fentanyl test strips to those who ask for them.

“A lot of people have a misconception about people who use drugs. There are people who do not intentionally want to use fentanyl,” said Jessica Stanley, a regional overdose prevention specialist. “It’s important for individuals to be able to test their substances to know if they can be safe or not.”

In 2022, the Drug Enforcement Agency said they seized more than 50.6 million fake prescription pills that were laced with fentanyl. That includes 184,382 pills and 316 pounds of fentanyl powder in Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia.

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