According to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdose deaths in the United States dropped slightly in 2023, but the opioid crisis continues. Most of the 107,543 estimated overdose deaths that year involved fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a potent opioid that’s often unknowingly mixed with other drugs, making them more dangerous and increasing the risk of overdose. Xylazine, an animal sedative, is also often mixed with other drugs and has been linked to a growing number of overdose deaths.
To respond to the opioid crisis, many states offer harm reduction programs, which have been shown to prevent overdose deaths. These programs provide evidence-based, lifesaving tools like drug test strips, naloxone, and referrals to care.
Some harm reduction programs offer vaccinations, infectious disease testing, safe needle disposal, and sterile injection supplies. Those programs are called syringe services programs, or SSPs. These harm reduction programs make communities safer and help people who use drugs live healthier lives.
Read on to learn about how harm reduction programs can prevent overdose deaths.
Drug test strips help people make informed decisions before using drugs
Some harm reduction programs provide fentanyl and xylazine test strips, small pieces of paper that can detect if fentanyl or xylazine are unknowingly mixed with a substance. If a substance tests positive, a person may opt to not use the drug or to use a smaller amount, which reduces their risk of overdosing.
Drug test strips are not perfect, and the only way to know for sure if a drug contains fentanyl or xylazine is to test the entire batch. Learn how to use fentanyl test strips and xylazine test strips from NYC Health.
People without access to harm reduction programs can order xylazine and fentanyl test strips online. However, drug test strips are considered “drug paraphernalia” in some states and are not legal everywhere.
Naloxone can reverse opioid overdoses
Harm reduction programs also provide naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain and blocking the effects of opioids like fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone. This lifesaving medication is available as an injection (similar to an EpiPen for allergies) or as a nasal spray (often sold under the brand name Narcan).
Naloxone will only reverse an opioid overdose. However, experts recommend administering naloxone if an overdose of any drug is suspected because non-opioids—including cocaine, methamphetamine, and xylazine—are often laced with fentanyl. Naloxone will not harm an individual if you give it to them and they are not overdosing on an opioid.
If you don’t have access to harm reduction programs in your area, you can purchase over-the-counter naloxone at pharmacies, grocery and convenience stores, and other retailers.
Learn how to use naloxone from the American Medical Association, or sign up for a free online training.
Referrals to care help people who use drugs seek treatment when they’re ready
Harm reduction programs like SSPs offer a range of services, including referrals to counseling, medical care, and drug treatment.
Research shows that new users of SSPs are five times more likely to enter drug treatment programs and three times more likely to stop injecting drugs than those who don’t use those programs.
Learn more about harm reduction from the National Harm Reduction Coalition.