NEW YORK – Fentanyl is a deadly drug that is claiming the lives of more people every day. The federal drug agency warns that it could be up to 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.
In the New York City there is a statistic which reflects that every three hours someone dies from an overdose. “Substances like fentanyl and xylazine make the drug supply unpredictable and increase the risk of overdose and other harms of drug use.”
As part of the fight to stop this type of death, non-profit groups are betting on the distribution of a “kit”, which has fentanyl test strips, which help people to test for substances before consuming them. to see if they have fentanyl or not. These kits They are distributed in bars, restaurants and art galleries.
Testing for fentanyl is helpful because this drug cannot be detected by sight, taste, smell, or touch. Fentanyl is distributed as a powder, injectable, and pills, and many times, to make it more attractive, they change its color like candy without thinking about the devastating damage. In addition, it has different names on the street: dance fever, friend (frend), china girl, china town, goodfellas y tango & cash. It’s the same though, it’s fentanyl.
According to experts, all drugs, except possibly marijuana, are cut with fentanyl.
New York City criminal justice professor Camila Gelpi Acosta and nonprofits seek to raise awareness to reduce risks among New Yorkers who use drugs laced with fentanyl, a substance that was present in 80% of deaths due to an overdose in 2021, according to the local Health Department.
“We are talking about people who work in the legal economy, who are secretaries, who are teachers, who have a house, who have families, and they overdose in the bathrooms of their houses and their family does not know what happened. What happened,” Acosta said.
WHAT ARE THE TESTS ABOUT TO DETECT FENTANYL IN OTHER TYPES OF DRUGS?
At least 52 businesses in the Big Apple already have these boxes full of evidence, one of the distribution centers is this Mexican restaurant in Lower Manhattan.
With these tests, which can come in different packages, the aim is to identify if there is fentanyl in the drugs in order to avoid overdose.
What are test strips to detect fentanyl
Test strips can tell you if the drugs you take contain fentanyl, but not how much fentanyl is or how strong it is. Test strips can prevent an overdose if used correctly and with other risk reduction practices.
How are they used
The tool is used in any drug that dissolves in water. The paper that comes in the “kit” is introduced into the solution for 15 seconds, and waits 2 to 5 minutes to see the result.
If a pink line appears on the paper, it means that it is positive for fentanyl and if two lines are observed, it is negative.
where can i get them
For more information on this drug in New York City, how to avoid an overdose, and where to find the tests. go here.
The Bronx:
Organization: Bronxworks Park Haven
Address: Call or email for pickup time and location
telephone: (929) 575-4883
Email: [email protected]
Queens:
1. Organization: Nowadays
Address: 56-06 Cooper Avenue, Queens Hours: Wednesday 5 pm to 12 am, Thursday and Friday 5 pm to 4 am, Saturday 12 pm to 4 am, Sunday 5 pm to 11:00 pm 2. Organization: GPH Rockaway Gets Naloxone
Directions: Call or email for pickup time and location Phone: (347) 738-3674 Email: jsimmons@ndri-usa.org
Brooklyn
Organization: La Nueva Esperanza, Inc. Address: 213 Johnson Avenue, Brooklyn Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm
Manhattan
Organization: Bluestockings Cooperative
Address: 116 Suffolk Street, Manhattan
Hour: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Organization: Emma L. Bowen Community Service Center
Address: 1727 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan
Hour: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
telephone: (212) 694-9200
Organization: Jericho Project
Address: 2013 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, Manhattan
Hour: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
telephone: (212) 222-1400
Organization: Educational Alliance
Address: 25-29 Avenue D, Manhattan
Hour: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
telephone: (646) 395-4400
HOW DRUG AFFECTS THE LATINO COMMUNITY
The federal drug agency shows on its website that the lethal dose of fentanyl could be as small as the tip of a pencil.
Latinos in New York rank second in overdose deaths. Statistics from the Department of Health and the city’s medical examiner’s office show that when the pandemic began in 2020, drugs took the lives of 691 whites, 635 Latinos, 613 blacks and 30 Asians.
Stigma is that barrier that prevents more Latinos from daring to request these controversial tests.
MORE RESOURCES
Free help line in English and Spanish:
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 1-800-487-4889
Website:
www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service, this Helpline provides 24-hour free, confidential treatment referrals and information on mental health and substance use disorders, prevention and recovery, in English and Spanish.
2023-07-27 19:22:47
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