Fentanyl Community Engagement & Test Strip Distribution Initiative

The presence of fentanyl in NYC’s drug supply has dramatically increased, with 68% of overdose deaths in 2019. Fentanyl can be found in pressed pills, and powders unknowingly to the recipient. Being able to test for Fentanyl is a harm reduction approach that empowers individuals to make informed decisions that could save their life.

“With overdose deaths occurring at a rate of 1 per every 4 hours, we must get the tools into the hands of the people who need it” says Monique Powell, Supervisor of EAC Network’s Brooklyn Collaborative Legal Engagement Assistance and Response (CLEAR), and Opioid Overdose Prevention Program.

The Fentanyl Community Engagement & Test Distribution project aims to assure access to overdose education and supply provisions like fentanyl test strips and naloxone rescue kits amongst the target population, defined as individuals at risk of witnessing or experiencing an overdose, including people who use substances, their family, friends and loved ones. Peer Recovery Coaches provide these much needed provisions and are expanding community outreach and educating the community, while increasing naloxone and fentanyl test strip dispensing to the most vulnerable.

In response to an increase in fentanyl in the drug supply in NYC, EAC’s Brooklyn CLEAR peer mentors, and Opioid Overdose Prevention staff take a targeted community approach to harm reduction and provide Fentanyl detection education, technical assistance and test strip distribution to neighborhoods disproportionately affected by high rates of drug overdose