Ohio Decriminalizes Fentanyl Test Strips to Combat Overdose Crisis

Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order Wednesday allowing the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to legalize drug testing tools aimed at preventing overdoses.

The emergency rule exempts test strips and reagent kits from the state’s drug paraphernalia definition. The tools can detect fentanyl, xylazine, medetomidine, benzimidazole-opioids — commonly known as nitazenes — and benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-related compounds. Drug test strips aid in harm reduction efforts and allow users to test substances for the presence of compounds that are contributing to overdose fatalities.