News
NNESAM Supports Strengthening Legal Protections for Drug Checking Equipment in New Hampshire
On January 23, the Northern New England Society of Addiction Medicine (NNESAM) sent a letter supporting HB 226 to members of the House Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. This legislation would strengthen legal protections for the use and distribution of drug checking equipment (DCE) like fentanyl test strips and xylazine test strips.
In the letter, NNESAM characterized HB 226 as important legislation to reduce fatal overdose risk. NNESAM noted that DCE like fentanyl test strips and xylazine test strips are easily accessible and inexpensive tests that can be utilized by persons who use drugs to detect the presence of dangerous additives with high accuracy. NNESAM pointed to research indicating that usage of DCE is associated with positive changes in drug use behavior and desire to seek treatment. Further, enhanced access to DCE in communities can reduce the risk of exposure to xylazine, preventing harmful health effects. As such, NNESAM expressed strong support for HB 226 as a positive step to enhance access to DCE in New Hampshire.