NIH and FDA leaders call for more research, lower barriers to improve and implement drug- checking tools amid overdose epidemic

Tools such as fentanyl test strips hold promise to reduce drug-related harms and save lives [] [View as webpage / Share]( [NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse] NEWS [Rearview of woman's arm with heart-shaped tattoo standing at an outdoor music festival.] NIH and FDA leaders call for more research, lower barriers to improve and implement drug- checking tools amid overdose epidemic In a new Commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine, leaders at the National Institutes of Health and U.S. Food and Drug Administration highlight the urgent need to address current gaps in the research, development, and implementation of fentanyl test strips and other rapid drug-detecting tools that could help prevent overdose deaths. These tools have the potential to save lives and to serve as an important part of harm reduction toolkits but often remain inaccessible because of gaps in research and various other barriers, including state or legal prohibitions. This call to action encourages new collaborations among researchers and agencies to ensure the effectiveness of fentanyl test strips and promote the development of additional drug-checking technologies. It also encourages the reduction of barriers that inhibit use of these technologies where not prohibited by law. [View Media Advisory]( Stay Connected [facebook]([twitter]([linkedin]([youtube]( --------------------------------------------------------------- View topics of interest, update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, alter frequency of bulletins, or stop subscriptions at any time on your [Subscriber Preferences Page](. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit [subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com](. This service is provided to you at no charge by [National Institute on Drug Abuse](. --------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to {EMAIL} using govDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of National Institutes of Health: National Institute on Drug Abuse · 3WFN MSC 6024 · 16071 Industrial Dr ·Dock 11 · Gaithersburg, MD 20877 [GovDelivery logo](