New York State is taking action to address the spread of xylazine, including a new effort to supply free xylazine test strips through the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports and Office of Mental Health programs, as well as directly to the public.
Xylazine is a non-opioid sedative found in the unregulated drug supply with potentially harmful health impacts, especially when added to illicitly manufactured fentanyl. It is typically used in veterinary settings, and not intended or approved for human use. Xylazine is not responsive to naloxone, leading to complicated fentanyl overdoses, and could cause prolonged, heavy sedation, as well as skin wounds which may require amputation in severe situations. Additional educational information about xylazine is now available on the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports website, https://oasas.ny.gov/xylazine.
The new ordering system will enable providers and New York State residents to order test strips through a partnership with NY MATTERS (https://mattersnetwork.org/harmreduction/), and will ensure an ongoing supply of this important harm-reduction tool across the state. These test strips are designed to detect the presence of xylazine that has been mixed in with other substances, such as cocaine or heroin.
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) is also making xylazine test strips available to its network of Outreach and Engagement Services providers across the State and through its ongoing training programs. These efforts are being supported through New York State’s Opioid Settlement Fund and through a federal State Opioid Response Grant. To access ordering information, providers can visit the OASAS harm reduction webpage, https://oasas.ny.gov/harm-reduction.
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