The drug supply today is more unpredictable than ever. Substances are frequently mixed, altered or contaminated without the person’s knowledge, increasing the risk of overdose and serious medical complications. Because there is no reliable way to tell what a drug contains just by looking at it, more people are choosing to test drugs before use in attempt to reduce harm.

Drug testing does not make substance use safe. Instead, it provides limited information that can help people avoid accidental exposure to particularly dangerous substances, including fentanyl and other additives linked to overdose deaths.

Why Drug Testing Has Become More Common

Illicitly manufactured fentanyl has become widespread across the drug supply and is no longer limited to heroin or opioid products. It has been found in cocaine, methamphetamine, counterfeit pills and substances sold as prescription medications.

As a result, many people are unintentionally exposed to opioids despite never intending to take them. This growing unpredictability has led people to seek ways to reduce immediate risk, including testing substances before use.

What Drug Testing Strips Are Called

The most common tools used for drug testing are called drug testing strips. Each type of strip is designed to detect a specific substance.

Fentanyl Test Strips

Fentanyl test strips, often called FTS, are the most widely used drug checking tool. They detect the presence of fentanyl and some fentanyl analogs when a small amount of a substance is dissolved in water. These strips were originally designed for urine testing but are now commonly used in harm-reduction settings.

Xylazine Test Strips

Xylazine test strips detect xylazine, a non-opioid sedative increasingly found in the drug supply. Xylazine is especially dangerous because it does not respond to naloxone and can cause severe medical complications, including serious skin wounds and prolonged sedation.

Benzodiazepine Test Strips

Benzodiazepine test strips are used to detect certain benzodiazepines, such as Xanax-type substances. These drugs can significantly increase overdose risk when combined with opioids or alcohol. Availability and detection capabilities vary. Not all benzodiazepines can be identified by these strips.

Each test strip typically detects only one substance, and no single strip can identify everything that may be present.

Where People Get Drug Testing Strips

Drug testing strips are available through several channels:

• Harm-reduction organizations and nonprofit distributors
• Local health departments and community outreach programs
• Syringe service programs and mobile health units
• Online through public health supply websites

In some areas, fentanyl test strips may also be available at pharmacies, though availability varies by location and policy. Many community programs distribute test strips at little or no cost.

What Drug Testing Can and Cannot Tell You

It is important to understand the limitations of drug testing.

Drug testing can:

• Indicate whether a specific substance like fentanyl or xylazine is present
• Help identify unexpected contamination
• Reduce the risk of accidental overdose
• Drug testing cannot:
• Determine how much of a substance is present
• Guarantee that a drug is safe
• Detect every possible contaminant
• Prevent overdose on its own

A negative test result does not mean a substance is safe. It only means that the specific substance being tested for was not detected at the level the strip can identify.

Why People Are Concerned About More Than Just Fentanyl

In addition to fentanyl, many people worry about unknowingly consuming substances they never intended to take. These concerns include:

• Xylazine, which increases medical risks and does not respond to overdose reversal medications
• Benzodiazepines, which can dangerously suppress breathing
• Unexpected combinations of drugs that interact unpredictably
• Extremely high potency that exceeds tolerance

As new substances continue to enter the drug supply, testing tools struggle to keep pace, increasing overall risk.

Drug Testing Is Harm Reduction, Not a Solution

Drug testing is a harm-reduction strategy, not a solution to addiction. While it may reduce immediate risk, it does not address dependence, withdrawal, mental health concerns or the underlying factors driving substance use.

For many people, the need to test drugs before use reflects a growing awareness that substance use no longer feels safe or controlled.

When It May Be Time to Seek Support

Feeling anxious about what you are taking, worrying about overdose or relying on test strips to feel safe are important signals. These concerns often indicate that harm-reduction tools alone are no longer enough.

Professional treatment provides medical supervision, emotional support and structure that drug testing cannot offer.

Moving Beyond Survival

At Silvermist, we recognize that education and harm-reduction information can save lives in the short term. We also believe people deserve more than simply surviving an unsafe drug supply.

If you or someone you care about is relying on drug testing to feel safe enough to use, it may be time to explore treatment options that offer stability, safety and long-term recovery. Help is available, and taking the first step does not require having everything figured out.