The strips are inserted into a mixture of water and the drug to be tested, and they return a positive result when xylazine is present. However, they cannot test for quantity or potency of the drug.

Early and ongoing research there shows the strips accurately detected xylazine in more than 80% of drug and urine samples. “They aren’t perfect, no drug screening test is.

Fentanyl test strips are becoming legal in more states as overdoses from the deadly substance continue to be an issue. Nearly 70% of the overdoses in 2022 could be linked to fentanyl.

Fentanyl test strips have been shown to be highly effective and cost-efficient at fighting the crisis, but Texas is one of the few states that has not decriminalized them.(RJ Sangosti/MediaNews ...

Fentanyl test strips remain particularly controversial. While the White House endorsed their use in early 2021, just months after President Biden took power, they remained illegal in a majority of ...

Fentanyl test strips have become a popular but contentious tool in response. Supporters say they help drug users make lifesaving decisions. Opponents contend that they facilitate drug use.