To ensure that expenses relating to the acquisition or use of devices for use in the detection of fentanyl, xylazine, and other emerging adulterant substances, including test strips are allowable expenses under certain grant programs.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · September 28, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
The Preventing Overdoses with Test Strips Act would allow federal grant money to be used for purchasing and using drug test strips and other devices that detect dangerous adulterants like fentanyl and xylazine in drug samples. The bill modifies two existing federal health programs—grant programs under the 21st Century Cures Act and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration—to explicitly permit spending on these detection devices. This change would affect harm reduction organizations, public health agencies, and community groups that receive federal grants and want to provide test strips to drug users to help prevent overdose deaths. The legislation does not specify new funding amounts or timelines, instead clarifying that existing grant money can already be allocated for this purpose. By making test strips an allowable use of federal funds, the bill aims to expand access to a tool that helps people identify when drugs contain dangerous synthetic opioids before using them.
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