CLEARWATER, Fla. — A life-saving tool in the battle against fentanyl will now be more readily accessible in one of Tampa Bay’s counties hardest hit by the opioid epidemic.
The Pinellas County Board of Commissioners Tuesday voted unanimously to move forward with a formal change to a local ordinance, removing fentanyl testing strips and kits from a list of illicit drug “paraphernalia.”
The move helps align the county with state-level changes that went into effect in July. During last year’s legislative session, lawmakers approved and the governor signed off on a new law that decriminalizes the inexpensive tools that advocates say could be life or death. A proposal the year prior never moved forward.
“We'll have the opportunity to distribute them, thanks to this new ordinance,” said William Atkinson, executive director of the Recovery Epicenter Foundation in Clearwater.
He and his team help support people struggling with addiction, a life he knows personally.
“I haven't found it necessary to pick up a drink or drug since February of 2006," he said. "I'm one of those lucky ones that got clean and sober.”
Atkinson said many people don’t get the same chance. With potent drugs like fentanyl being more prevalent, addiction is becoming deadlier.
“We hope that they'll use these fentanyl testing strips anytime to check their supply," Atkinson said. "There are things being put into the supply that are going to get people killed and have been killing people."
The tests are relatively inexpensive and accurate, some can be purchased online at retailers like Amazon.
Atkinson adds the ability of organizations like his to distribute testing kits as well as life-saving drugs like Narcan can help turn the tide and prevent more families from dealing with tragedies.
“People who are using mind-altering substances aren't bad people and so, giving them every opportunity to survive this epidemic should be something we all can get behind,” Atkinson added.
The Board of County Commissioners will look through the full ordinance through the rest of the year to see if any other changes are necessary.