CADC Services

https://drydrinker.com/blogs/blog/sober-st-patricks-day

8 Ways To Celebrate a Sober St. Patrick's Day - A Guide Celebrate St. Patrick's Day sober and go green without the Guinness. Discover why many people drink on this day and how you can enjoy it alcohol-free.

As we celebrate the "4th of July" holidays please be safe and remember some key components to insure your safety and those we love... Don't drink and drive, find a designated driver or alternatives like ride share services, public transportation, or take a cab. Drink responsibly and please be safe and enjoy the Fireworks displays in our communities!!!

"Happy Holiday from all of us at CADC Services!!!"

How To Celebrate Thanksgiving Sober: Ten Helpful Tips
Written By: Alicia Schultz

Thanksgiving is a wonderful day to celebrate what you’re grateful for, have some laughs, and reconnect with family over a delicious dinner. But whether you’re newly sober, years into recovery, or simply don’t want to drink anymore, this holiday can be challenging.

After all, how can you say “no” to loved ones offering you alcohol during Thanksgiving? What are the best ways to stay occupied throughout the evening, and how can you keep your stress levels in check?

If you could use some extra help staying sober this holiday season, we’ve got you covered. Below are ten tips for a successful sober Thanksgiving. And remember, there’s never any shame in reaching out for support if you’re struggling with drinking during the holidays.

1. Find Support in Loved Ones Who Don’t Drink
Before Thanksgiving dinner, consider confiding in a relative who isn’t a big drinker themselves, and let them know that you might need a sober ally. Chances are, they’d be more than happy to offer you some sober company throughout the evening.

2. Keep a Non-Alcoholic Drink in Your Hand
This tip applies to nearly any situation where you might need some extra alcohol defense: Simply hold on to a nonalcoholic drink (such as fruit punch or soda in a cup) all night. This tip is handy because people will be less inclined to offer you booze when they see you already have something in your hand.

3. Give Your Family a Heads-Up
If you feel comfortable doing so, give your family a heads-up that you’re planning on celebrating Thanksgiving sober. If nothing else, informing everyone ahead of time should discourage them from offering you alcohol when the holiday rolls around.

4. Have a Supportive Friend on Call
Find someone you can call or text if things get stressful—whether they’re a close friend, sponsor, or peer in recovery.

This person can provide much-needed support if, at any point, you feel overwhelmed. They can help you ground yourself in reality and stay focused on not drinking. And, if it comes to it, they can also help you decide when it’s time to head home.

5. Plan How You’ll Say No to Drinking
If you’re like most people, you have at least one family member who gets out of hand when they drink during the holidays. That’s why planning how to say no is essential.

When someone offers you alcohol, you can make an excuse about being a designated driver, be direct about your sobriety, or change the subject altogether. In any case, strategies for saying “no” can be lifesaving when it comes to staying sober on Thanksgiving.

6. Remind Yourself Why You’re Sticking to Sobriety
There are countless reasons a person would quit drinking—whether for their health, family, or overall quality of life. But festive, high-energy environments like Thanksgiving dinner can make it easy to forget about your reasons and consider having “just one.”

So, before you head out, remind yourself of your motivations for not drinking. Remembering your “why” can make it easier to stay on track, even when stressful situations bring on the urge to drink.

7. Make Sure You Can Leave at Any Time
On the off-chance that something at Thanksgiving dinner goes wrong, it’s best to have a quick way to head home. Ideally, you’d bring your own car so you can leave if you feel overwhelmed. But if taking your own vehicle isn’t possible, you could ride with a friend or family member who can take you home if necessary.

8. Spend Some Time Helping Out
Helping out at Thanksgiving is one of the best ways to stay occupied and avoid the urge to drink. Before the meal, you can ask the host if they need any help with food prep or setting the table.

And, after dinner, you can offer to help with cleaning up the dishes, sweeping the floor, or taking out the trash.

These kind gestures are perfect for keeping your hands and mind busy (and the host will greatly appreciate you for them, too).

9. Invite Your Loved Ones to Play a Board Game
A family-friendly board game is an excellent way to have some fun if you’re celebrating Thanksgiving sober. Of course, some of your loved ones might still drink while they play. But the healthy dose of competition means people will be chattering about winning and joking about losing, instead of thinking and talking about alcohol.

10. Stay Positive
The holiday season can be tough, especially if you’re in recovery from alcohol use disorder. It’s natural to feel a little worried about getting through it.

However, staying positive is key. Not only will optimism lift your spirits, but research has linked it with resilience to stress and better mental health overall. So, take a minute to visualize a happy sober Thanksgiving.

While a few instances of stress or anxiety are to be expected, you might have a lot of joyful moments to look back on, too. And after it’s all said and done, you get to leave knowing you’ve just hit another milestone without the booze!

Press Release

DEA Joins with Families Across the Country to Increase Awareness about the Dangers of Fentanyl

WASHINGTON – This week the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosted regional family summits across the country in support of those who have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning.

This is the first undertaking of its kind for the DEA field divisions and builds off the momentum of this summer’s Inaugural Family Summit hosted at DEA Headquarters in Arlington, VA.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram delivered remarks at Thursday’s Family Summit in Washington, D.C.

“The Justice Department will never give up in our effort to protect American lives,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. “We will continue to work tirelessly to get deadly drugs -- including fentanyl -- out of our communities. And through today’s Family Summit, we will help prevent future tragedies. Your stories and your participation are indispensable to the success of this effort. We are humbled to do this work alongside you, and we stand with you in honor of your loved ones.”

“The passion, commitment and incredible work these families are doing to prevent others from experiencing the profound pain of losing a loved one to a fentanyl poisoning inspires all of us at DEA. They have made it their mission to save lives. Their efforts are, and will remain, an integral part of DEA’s outreach, prevention and education programs,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “The family summits are one of the ways DEA is working to meet this moment.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 107,622 people died by drug poisoning in the United States in 2021. A majority of drug poisoning deaths are attributed to synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl.
The DEA regional family summits gather families who are passionate about saving lives through increased public awareness of fentanyl. These summits allow DEA to listen and learn from families as they share their personal stories. Additionally, the summits provide participants information on national drug threats and resources available to enhance local prevention efforts.
If you are interested in information on how to get involved in future events, please complete the Advocates for Change form and submit it to [email protected].

DEA has resources available to help parents and care givers talk to kids about the dangers of drug use. You can also visit the Get Smart About Drugs website.

If you or someone you know needs help with substance use or mental health disorders, please visit DEA’s Recovery Resources page for list of resources.

Managing Sobriety During the Holidays

‘Tis the most dangerous season in the United States for those in recovery, focusing on sobriety during the holidays, along with the public utilizing our roadways. With festive events and holiday gatherings, this time of year consists of more alcohol-related fatalities than any other season, and CADC Services (CADC SAP Services) wants to ensure the safety of our public – whether on the roadways or on the job, it’s important to put sobriety and safety first.

Staying sober during the holidays can be a challenge for many, more so than drinking and driving. For alcoholics and the families affected by alcoholism, Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day can be one of the most difficult times during recovery and for practicing sobriety.

The holiday time can pose many threats to sober-living due to a variety of emotions some may feel during the celebratory events. For some, triggers to consume alcohol can be felt with stress, anxiety, anger, sadness, loneliness, or depression, and can overwhelm someone already facing the day-to-day challenges of sobriety. Some may also face enhanced emotions that make them want to cope with their feelings by turning to alcohol, but here are some tips to help you navigate sobriety this season:

• Have a plan before you’re put into a situation that requires one! If you know you’ll be around certain individuals or a group that promotes drinking or encourages you to drink, plan ahead and enable yourself to remain sober and steer clear of alcohol. The choice is yours and you CAN choose not to drink!
• Confide in someone you trust to be your voice of reason if you feel triggered. If you have a family member, friend, therapist, or sponsor, allow them to hold you accountable for your sobriety. Entrust in them if you feel you may slip up and ask them to be readily available to guide you IF the urge sneaks up on you.

• Bring a sober side-kick. Find someone who supports your journey and sober-living and tag-team events together. This can help keep you on the right path, give you a supportive shoulder and what a relapse can do to all your hard work!

• Keep a “drink” in your hand and bring your own (non-alcoholic) beverages. This technique can prevent people from offering you a beverage if you’re already keeping a (non-alcoholic) beverage full! Sparkling seltzers, sodas, juices, or whatever non-alcoholic options you enjoy – stock up, bring them with you and enjoy the party!

• Be true to yourself and have a response prepared. Meaning, when offered a drink by someone who is unaware that you’re in recovery, what will you say? Having a response already in your mind can help you calmly navigate the situation, reply appropriately, and help avoid temptation. You don’t have to overshare with anyone about why you’re not drinking, but you can respond with something along the lines of, “I have plans first thing in the morning” or “I’m driving tonight.” Be mindful of the events you choose to RSVP to and stay strong!

REMEMBER: You are ALWAYS in control and can always say NO! Place yourself in situations that make you feel the safest and most comfortable, surrounding yourself with positivity and those you trust. If you or someone you know is at risk of drinking and driving, please call a sober ride or designated driver. You have a lot to lose!

Happy Holidays!

CADC Services updated their address.

Heavily Smoking Pot Can Seemingly Induce A Strange Condition That Has An Even Weirder Remedy

- By Josh Davis 10 APR 2018

As the number of ma*****na smokers in the US continues to rise, so does the number of reports for a strange condition that can only be relieved by taking hot showers (or by stopping smoking pot, obviously).

The symptoms of the condition include cyclic bouts of nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain, which is not prevented or helped by anti-nausea pills. It seems the only relief from the syndrome is taking a hot bath or shower, which soothes the condition for a short while, until it returns not long after.

The condition arises in people who are heavy ma*****na smokers (defined as puffing on w**d at least 20 days per month), and is technically known as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). The study, published in Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, was based on 155 heavy ma*****na users, 33 percent of whom experienced CHS.

While people presenting with the symptoms of the condition used to be a rare occasion, doctors are increasingly treating patients with CHS, according to The New York Times. This observation is supported by the study that found that up to a third of heavy pot smokers might be experiencing it. That translates into a potential 2.75 million sufferers in America, although there may be other factors in play as well.

Despite being fairly prevalent, we know surprisingly little about the condition. While we know the heavy use of w**d triggers it and that a hot shower relieves it, the cause of CHS is a head-scratcher. However, there are a couple of working theories.

We know, for example, that the body’s system for dealing with pain includes endogenous cannabinoids. This is thought to be one of the reasons why smoking pot helps to dampen pain in some patients, as the tetrahydrocannabinol in ma*****na interacts with this system. But some doctors think that triggering this pain system too frequently disturbs it and induces CHS

One doctor told Live Science that he thinks that over-stimulation of the pain system could be having a negative effect and that the hot shower is simply a way of distracting the brain by producing a different sensory signal, and hence relieving the pain.

It is important to stress that this theory is not certain, but a hypothesis. Doctors still don’t fully understand the condition, why some people get it and some don’t, and why it can be used to treat nausea in patients undergoing chemo but seems to induce it in others.

What is certain, though, is the simple way to prevent the nausea and stomach cramps if you do develop CHS – STOP SMOKING POT!

Workforce Drug Test Positivity Climbs to Highest Level in Two Decades, Finds Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index Analysis

Positivity for Co***ne and Ma*****na Increase for Federally Mandated, Safety-Sensitive Workers Required to Test Under Federal Law

Amid Widespread Recruiting and Retention Challenges, Drug Positivity Increases in Post-Accident Tests at a Faster Rate Than Pre-Employment Tests for Co***ne, Ma*****na, Opiates and Oxycodones

SECAUCUS, N.J., March 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The rate of positive drug test results among America's workforce reached its highest rate last year since 2001 and was up more than 30% in the combined U.S. workforce from an all-time low in 2010-2012, according to a new analysis released today by Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services.

The study, based on more than 11 million deidentified urine, hair and oral fluid drug test results collected between January and December 2021, offers revealing insights into workforce drug use as employers grapple with creating safe, healthful work environments amid an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis.

The overall positivity rate in the combined U.S. workforce, based on nearly nine million urine drug tests collected between January and December 2021, was up in 2021 to 4.6% compared to 4.4% in 2020 and up 31.4 percent from the all-time low of 3.5% just 10 years ago (2010-2012). The combined U.S. workforce includes the general U.S. workforce of mostly company-policy testing by private employers as well as the federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce, which includes federal employees and the transportation and nuclear power industries, and can include workers such as pilots, truck drivers, train conductors and others required to drug test under federal legislation.

Overall positivity in the federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce based on nearly 2.7 million urine drug tests stayed even year over year (2.2% in 2020 and 2021) and was 4.8% higher than 2017 (2.1% in 2017 versus 2.2% in 2021). In the general U.S. workforce, positivity increased 1.8% (5.5% in 2020 versus 5.6% in 2021) and was 12% higher than in 2017 (5.0% in 2017 versus 5.6% in 2021) and up each of the last five years.

For an interactive map of the Drug Testing Index with positivity rates and trend lines by drug categories and three-digit ZIP code in the United States, visit DTIDrugMap.com.
"Our Drug Testing Index reveals several notable trends, such as increased drug positivity rates in the safety-sensitive workforce, including those performing public safety and national security jobs, as well as higher rates of positivity in individuals tested after on-the-job accidents," said Barry Sample, PhD, Senior Science Consultant for Quest Diagnostics.

"Employers are wrestling with significant recruitment and retention challenges as well as with maintaining safe and engaging work environments that foster positive mental and physical wellbeing," said Keith Ward, General Manager and Vice President, Quest Diagnostics Employer Solutions. "Our Drug Testing Index data raises important questions about what it means to be an employer committed to employee health and safety. Eager to attract talent, employers may be tempted to lower their standards. In the process, they raise the specter of more drug-related impairment and worksite accidents that put other employees and the general public in harms' way."

The new findings of the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™ are being unveiled this week at the Drug & Alcohol Testing Association 2022 Conference taking place March 30-April 2 in Louisville, KY.

Despite years of decline, positivity rates increased in several federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce testing categories

After five years of steady declines in several drug categories, positivity rates based on urine drug tests for the federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce increased in 2021. Of note, ma*****na increased 8.9% (0.79% in 2020 to 0.86% in 2021), amphetamines increased 7.8% (0.64% in 2020 to 0.69% in 2021) and co***ne increased 5.0% (0.20% in 2020 to 0.21% in 2021).

"It is important for workers to know that certain employers are required to test for ma*****na under federal law and if they use ma*****na, they can still lose their jobs," said Dr. Sample. "People who use drugs during working hours or before work can still be impaired and dangerous to co-workers, the general public and themselves."

Positivity for ma*****na continues upward climb in general U.S. workforce

Positivity rates for ma*****na in the general U.S. workforce, based on more than 6 million urine tests, continued an upward climb, increasing 8.3% (3.6% in 2020 versus 3.9% in 2021), the highest positivity rate ever reported in the DTI. Over five years, positivity for ma*****na in the general U.S. workforce increased 50% (2.6% in 2017 versus 3.9% in 2021).

In oral fluid testing, overall workforce drug positivity decreased, but increased for ma*****na, methamphetamine and co***ne

In 2021, positivity in the general U.S. workforce based on oral fluid was 7.3% in 2021, a decline of 46.3% compared to 2020 (13.6%) and 29.8% compared to 2017 (10.4%). The drop in oral fluid-positivity (13.6% in 2020 versus 7.3% in 2021) was driven by a decline in the number of pre-employment tests that included ma*****na. However, for those tests that included ma*****na, the oral-fluid drug positivity rate for ma*****na was 14.8% in 2021, an increase of 20.3 percent compared to 2020 (12.3%) and up 68.2% over five years (8.8% in 2017). At the same time, the positivity rate for co***ne increased 46.6% (0.58% in 2020 versus 0.85% in 2021), its highest spike since 2006, and methamphetamine increased 26.4% (0.53% in 2020 versus 0.67% in 2021), exhibiting year-over-year increases for the last 5 years.

Oral fluid tests generally have a shorter window of drug detection than urine, and can detect some drugs faster, in a matter of minutes versus hours. Oral fluid collection also has the advantage of being observed, making it harder to subvert the testing process.

Urine positivity rates for post-accident testing increased at a greater rate than pre-employment testing over five years, driven by higher positivity on post-accident tests for ma*****na, co***ne, and semi-synthetic op**tes

Over the last five years in general U.S. workforce urine drug testing, pre-employment positivity increased 17.4% (4.6% in 2017 versus 5.4% in 2021); while post-accident positivity increased 26% (7.7% in 2017 versus 9.7% in 2021).

Similarly, in federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce urine drug testing, pre-employment positivity increased 9.5% since 2017 (2.1% in 2017 versus 2.3% in 2021), while post-accident positivity increased 41.9% (3.1% in 2017 versus 4.4% in 2021). In 2021, the post-accident positivity as compared to pre-employment positivity was 79.6% higher (9.7% versus 5.4%) in the general US workforce and 91.3% higher (4.4% versus 2.3%) in the federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce.

"Drug use affecting the work environment is a complex problem that is not going away," said Jenny Burke, Vice President of Impairment Practice, National Safety Council. "When workers use impairing substances, it can create incidents that compromise the safety of other workers and, in some cases, the general public. Employers should have the right and ability to maintain a substance-free workplace and the use of drug testing, including oral fluid in addition to urine. NSC supports policies and procedures that ensure safe and healthy workplaces."

In 2021, urine post-accident testing in the U.S. general workforce for the drugs ma*****na and co***ne the positivity rate was 63.4% and 266.7% higher, respectively, as compared to pre-employment tests. For the two groups of semi-synthetic op**te drugs – op**tes (hydrocodone/hydromorphone) and oxycodones (oxycodone/oxymorphone) – in these tests, post-accident positivity was 316.7% and 200% higher, respectively, than in pre-employment testing.

For federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce urine drug testing in 2021, post-accident positivity for ma*****na, co***ne, op**tes (hydrocodone/hydromorphone) and oxycodones (oxycodone/oxymorphone) was 63.6%, 119%, 257.1%, and 194.1% higher, respectively, as compared to pre-employment tests.

Pre-employment drug tests are meant to be a deterrent in hiring workers whose drug-use behavior may cause unsafe work conditions or poor work performance. Post-accident testing is conducted to evaluate whether drug use may have played a role in the workplace incident prompting the drug test.

"The increase in post-accident positivity is alarming and suggests more drug-associated accidents may be occurring even with employers with pre-employment drug testing in place," Dr. Sample said. "The high cost of work accidents cannot be understated. While employers often think of accidents in terms of wage and productivity losses, medical expenses, and administrative expenses, accidents also impact morale, competitiveness and recruiting. Given that employers are in a war for talent, creating a safe, healthful work environment is critical for attracting and retaining people."

Mixed picture for co***ne positivity in the general U.S. workforce

Positivity for co***ne based on urine tests in the general U.S. workforce decreased 4.5% (0.22% in 2020 versus 0.21% in 2021) and positivity for co***ne over the past five years declined 30% (0.30% in 2017 versus 0.21% in 2021). Positivity rates for co***ne based on urine tests in the federally mandated safety, safety-sensitive workforce increased 5.0% (0.20% in 2020 versus 0.21% in 2021), the first increase in five years.

Positivity for op**tes and oxycodones in the general U.S. workforce decreased last year and over five years

Positivity for op**tes (codeine/morphine) based on urine drug tests in the general U.S. workforce decreased 19% (0.21% in 2020 versus 0.17% in 2021) and 56.4% over five years (0.39% in 2017 versus 0.17% in 2021). Positivity for op**tes (hydrocodone/hydromorphone) in the general U.S. workforce decreased 3% (0.33% in 2020 versus 0.32% in 2021) and 37.3% over five years (0.51% in 2017 versus 0.32% in 2021). Positivity for oxycodones (oxycodone/oxymorphone) in the general U.S. workforce stayed the same in 2020 and 2021 (0.29%) and decreased 52.5% over five years (0.61% in 2017 versus 0.29% in 2021). To see a U.S. map depicting positivity rates for different classes of op**tes and oxycodone, visit DTIDrugMap.com.

Positivity for 6-AM (he**in) in the general U.S. workforce decreased over five years

Positivity for 6-AM metabolite (he**in) based on urine tests in the general U.S. workforce decreased 27.8% (0.018% in 2020 versus 0.013% in 2021) and 56.7% over five years (0.03% in 2017 versus 0.013% in 2021). Positivity for the 6-AM metabolite (he**in) in the federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce decreased 37.5% (0.008% in 2020 versus 0.005% in 2021) and 73.7% over five years (0.019% in 2017 versus 0.005% in 2021).

Retail Trade had highest positivity among key industries

The overall positivity rate increased in 16 out of 17 industries from 2017 to 2021. Retail Trade industry had the highest overall positivity rate in 2021, at 7%, an increase of 34.6% since 2017. This sector also experienced the only year over year rise in methamphetamine positivity from 2017 to 2021 of 55.6% (0.09% in 2017 to 0.14% in 2021).

Ma*****na positivity increased in all industries and by double-digits in 15 from 2017 to 2021. The Accommodation and Food Service industry had the highest workforce positivity for ma*****na at 7.5%, a relative increase of 114.3% over five years (3.5% in 2017 versus 7.5% in 2021).

In the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, results saw positivity for methamphetamine decrease year-over-year. Across the last five years, it decreased by 50% (0.18% in 2017 to 0.09% in 2021).

About the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™

The Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™ (DTI) is a series of reports that provide insights into trends in workforce drug use based on positivity rates of deidentified laboratory tests performed by Quest Diagnostics for a range of illicit, legal and prescription drugs. It examines test results according to three categories of workers: federally mandated, safety-sensitive workers; the general U.S. workforce; and the combined U.S. workforce. Federally mandated, safety-sensitive workers include pilots, bus and truck drivers, and workers in nuclear power plants, for whom routine drug testing is mandated by government agencies like the Department of Transportation,
Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Defense.

The strengths of the DTI analysis include its large, nationally representative sample size, longitudinal monitoring, a testing population that is generally reflective of the U.S. workforce and the quality of the company's drug testing services to confirm positive results. Limitations include analysis only of employers that perform drug testing with the company, and a lack of exact cross-specimen comparisons due to variations in substances for which employers test. Quest Diagnostics has analyzed annual workplace drug testing data since 1988 and publishes the findings as a public service.

https://newsroom.questdiagnostics.com/2022-03-30-Workforce-Drug-Test-Positivity-Climbs-to-Highest-Level-in-Two-Decades,-Finds-Quest-Diagnostics-Drug-Testing-Index-Analysis #:~:text=The%20overall%20positivity%20rate%20in,ago%20(2010%2D2012).

As the addiction and overdose crisis that has gripped the U.S. for two decades turns even deadlier, state governments are scrambling for ways to stem the destruction wrought by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

In statehouses across the country, lawmakers have been considering and adopting laws on two fronts: reducing the risk to users and increasing the penalties for dealing fentanyl or mixing it with other drugs. Meanwhile, Republican state attorneys general are calling for more federal action, while some GOP governors are deploying National Guard units with a mission that includes stopping the flow of fentanyl from Mexico.

“It’s a fine line to help people and try to get people clean, and at the same time incarcerate and get the drug dealers off the streets,” said Nathan Manning, a Republican state senator in Ohio who is sponsoring legislation to make it clear that materials used to test drugs for fentanyl are legal.

The urgency is heightened because of the deepening impact of the drugs. Last year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the nation had hit a grim milestone. For the first time, more than 100,000 Americans had died of drug overdoses over a 12-month period. About two-thirds of the deaths were linked to fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, which can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, he**in or prescription opioids.

The recent case of five West Point cadets who overdosed on fentanyl-laced co***ne during spring break in Florida put the dangers and pervasiveness of the fentanyl crisis back in the spotlight.

The chemical precursors to the drugs are being shipped largely from China to Mexico, where much of the illicit fentanyl supply is produced in labs before being smuggled into the U.S.

While users sometimes seek out fentanyl specifically, it and other synthetics with similar properties are often mixed with other drugs or formed into counterfeit pills so users often don’t know they’re taking it.

Advocates say test strips can help prevent accidental overdoses of drugs laced with fentanyl. The strips are given out at needle exchanges and sometimes at concerts or other events where drugs are expected to be sold or used.

Thomas Stuber, chief legislative officer at The LCADA Way, a drug treatment organization in Ohio that serves Lorain County and nearby areas, has been pushing for the test strip legislation. It also would ease access to naloxone, a drug that can be used to revive people when they’re having opioid overdoses.

“This is a harm-reduction approach that has received a lot of acceptance,” he said. “We cannot treat somebody if they’re dead.”

Since last year, at least a half-dozen states have enacted similar laws and at least a dozen others have considered them, according to research by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In West Virginia, the state hardest hit by opioids per capita, lawmakers passed a bill this month to legalize the testing strips. It now heads to the governor.

The measure was sponsored by Republican lawmakers. But state Delegate Mike Pushkin, a Democrat whose district includes central Charleston, has also been pushing for more access to fentanyl strips. He said the situation got worse last year when a state law tightened regulations on needle exchanges, causing some of them to close.
Pushkin, who also is in long-term addiction recovery, is pleased with passage of the testing strip bill but upset with another measure passed this month that would increase the penalties for trafficking fentanyl. That bill also would create a new crime of adding fentanyl to another drug.

“Their initial reaction is, ‘We have to do something,’” he said. “It’s not just about doing something, it’s about doing the right thing that actually has results.”

But for many lawmakers, making sure that tough criminal penalties apply to fentanyl is a priority.

California Assemblywoman Janet Nguyen (Rep), introduced a measure that would make penalties for dealing fentanyl just as harsh as those for selling co***ne or he**in. The Republican represents Orange County, where there were more than 600 reported fentanyl-related deaths last year.

“This is sending messages to those who aren’t afraid of selling these drugs that there’s a longer, bigger penalty than you might think,” said Nguyen, whose bill failed to advance from her chamber's public safety committee in a 5-2 vote last week. She said after the bill failed that she was considering trying again.
She said committee members stressed compassion for drug users, something she said she agrees with.

“The less available these pills are out there, the better it is,” Nguyen said. “And that is going after the drug dealer.”

The same day her measure failed to advance, a Democratic lawmaker in California announced a different bill to increase fentanyl-dealing penalties.

The National Conference of State Legislatures found 12 states with fentanyl-specific drug trafficking or possession laws as of last year. Similar measures have been introduced or considered since the start of 2021 in at least 19 states, the Associated Press found in an analysis of bills compiled by LegiScan. That does not include measures to add more synthetic opioids to controlled substance lists to mirror federal law; those have been adopted in many states, with bipartisan support.

Fentanyl has been in the spotlight in Colorado since February, when five people were found dead in a suburban Denver apartment from overdoses of fentanyl mixed with co***ne.

Under state law, possession with intent to distribute less than 14 grams of fentanyl is an offense normally punishable by two to four years in prison. But fentanyl is so potent that 14 grams can represent up to 700 lethal doses, under a calculation used by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

“It’s making it impossible to hold the dealer accountable for the deadliness of the drugs they’re peddling,” Colorado House Speaker Alec Garnett, a Democrat, said in an interview.

He and a bipartisan group of lawmakers last week unveiled a bill also backed by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis that would increase penalties for dealers with smaller amounts of fentanyl and in cases where the drug leads to a death. The legislation also would increase the accessibility of naloxone and test strips while steering people who possess fentanyl into education and treatment programs.

Maritza Perez, director of national affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance, a group that advocates for harm-reduction measures, is skeptical of the legislation that would increase criminal penalties.

“We have the largest incarceration rate in the entire world and we’re also setting records in terms of overdose deaths," she said.

Democratic governors are focusing primarily on harm reduction methods. Among them is Illinois Gov. Jay Pritzker, who released a broad overdose action plan last month.
Several Republican governors and attorneys general have responded to the rising death toll with administrative enforcement efforts and by pushing for more federal intervention.

Last year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey called for states to help secure the border with Mexico. Along with trying to keep people from entering the U.S., stopping the flow of fentanyl was cited as a reason. Several other Republican governors have sent contingents of state troopers or National Guard units.

The Texas Military Department said that from March 2021 through earlier this month, its troops near the border confiscated more than 1,200 pounds (540 kilograms) of fentanyl. By comparison, federal authorities reported confiscating about 11,000 pounds (4,990 kilograms) in 2021 — still a fraction of what entered the country.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice filed about 2,700 cases involving crimes related to the distribution of fentanyl and similar synthetic drugs, up nearly tenfold from 2017. Even so, Republican state officials are critical of federal efforts to stop fentanyl from entering the country.

In January, 16 GOP state attorneys general sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling on him to exert more pressure on China and Mexico to stop the flow of fentanyl. Those are steps that Dr. Rahul Gupta, the director of National Drug Control Policy, said are already being taken.

In March, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey called on U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for more enforcement on fentanyl trafficking and harsher penalties.

"Fentanyl is killing Americans of all walks of life in unprecedented numbers," Morrisey said in a statement emailed to the AP, "and the federal government must respond with full force, across the board, using every tool available to stem the tide of death.”

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/states-solutions-us-fentanyl-deaths-rising-83843718