The CantmIre Post

Introduction

Harm reduction boxes have been a popular way of helping people in Iowa reduce the potential harm associated with drug use. These boxes provide items such as needles, condoms, and drug testing strips to help users reduce their risk of overdose or contracting a disease from shared needles. However, recently a new state law has gone into effect that classifies fentanyl testing strips as "drug paraphernalia," meaning they can no longer be included in these harm reduction boxes. In this tutorial, we will discuss why this law was passed and what it means for Polk County residents who rely on these boxes for their safety.

Background

The new state law was passed by the Iowa legislature in 2020 and went into effect on July 1st of that same year. This law classified fentanyl testing strips as "drug paraphernalia" which meant they could not be sold or distributed without a prescription and would also be prohibited from being included in the harm reduction boxes that were located throughout Polk County. The purpose of the law was to reduce the spread of dangerous drugs like fentanyl and crack cocaine but some opponents argued that it would put those who use these drugs at risk because they would no longer have access to fentanyl testing strips in order to gauge how much of the substance is present in whatever they are about to consume.

Impact on Polk County

This new law has had a major impact on Polk County residents who rely on harm reduction boxes for their safety. Without access to fentanyl testing strips, users cannot determine how much is present in whatever drugs they are using which increases their risk of overdose or other negative health effects associated with taking too much of the substance. Additionally, this lack of information can make it difficult for first responders and medical personnel to treat overdoses when they occur because they won't know what type of drug is responsible without having access to test results from a strip.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the recent passing of a state law classifying fentanyl testing strips as "drug paraphernalia" has had an impact on Polk County residents who rely on harm reduction boxes for safety. Without access to these strips, users cannot properly determine how much fentanyl is present in their drugs which puts them at greater risk for overdose or other negative health effects associated with taking too much of this dangerous substance. While this law may have been intended to reduce the spread of dangerous drugs like fentanyl and crack cocaine, its implementation has had unintended consequences that need to be addressed if we want to ensure everyone's safety and well-being when it comes to drug use in Polk County.