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Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin. It is short acting and cannot be seen, tasted or smelled when mixed into other drugs.

While pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed for severe pain and end-of-life care, non-pharmaceutical fentanyl is produced illicitly and is now common in the illicit drug supply. The presence of non-pharmaceutical fentanyl in New York City has dramatically increased the number of overdose deaths, and fentanyl is now the most common drug involved in overdose deaths. In 2023, 2,444 New Yorkers died from a fentanyl-involved overdose.

Fentanyl is commonly found in drugs sold as heroin or dope. It has also been found in other drugs including powder and crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and ketamine. Fentanyl can also be found in pills from nonmedical sources, pressed into counterfeit pills to look like prescription painkillers or benzodiazepines, such as Xanax® Klonopin®, and Valium®.

Avoid an Overdose

Fentanyl use can increase your risk of overdose, especially if you do not regularly use opioids. Anyone who uses drugs that may contain fentanyl, even occasionally, may be at risk of overdose.

Reduce your risk of overdose:

• Test your drugs using fentanyl test strips.
• If positive, consider not using. If you do plan to use, start with a small dose and go slowly.
• Avoid using alone and take turns.
• Avoid mixing drugs.
• Keep naloxone ready and on hand.

If you would like to talk to someone about substance use services or treatment, contact 988.

Overdose Risk

Fentanyl poses a serious overdose risk for people who use drugs. People who intentionally use opioids are likely to consume fentanyl because it is common in the opioid supply. People who do not intentionally use opioids but use other drugs like stimulants are less likely to encounter fentanyl but are at higher risk of overdose if they do because their tolerance for opioids is lower.

Overdose is very unlikely to happen from:

• Touching fentanyl or being near smoke, powder or residue. There have been no confirmed cases of overdose due to skin contact or other methods of secondhand exposure. Fentanyl powder does not easily absorb into the skin. It would take hours to days of extreme prolonged skin exposure to fentanyl for an overdose to occur.
• Breathing in airborne fentanyl. Fentanyl powder does not produce enough air contamination to cause overdose, even in enclosed spaces like buses or trains.
• Interacting with or being near someone who has used fentanyl. Helping someone who may be experiencing an opioid overdose does not put you at risk of an overdose.

If you accidentally come into contact with a substance you think may be fentanyl, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and wash your hands with soap and water. Avoid using alcohol-based sanitizers and cleaners.

It is critical to ensure that all substances, including opioids, are stored safely and out of reach of children. Children often put items in their mouth and are more sensitive to fentanyl exposure. If you or someone else is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. For more information on accidental poisonings, call the NYC Poison Center at 212-764-7667.

Fentanyl Test Strips

Fentanyl test strips are an easy-to-use tool that can detect fentanyl in a variety of drugs. Learn how to use them with these instructions:

• Fentanyl Test Strips: Instructional Video


• Fentanyl Test Strip Instructional Brochure (PDF)
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• Fentanyl Test Strip Instructional Poster (PDF)
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If you need fentanyl test strips for personal use, you can find a list of community organizations that provide them at no cost below. You can also find test strips at some of the Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs on this list.

Fentanyl Test Strip Trainings

The Health Department offers virtual trainings to individuals and organizations on the use of fentanyl test strips as a harm reduction tool as well as strategies for community engagement. If you are interested in learning about fentanyl and fentanyl test strips, or your organization is distributing fentanyl test strips in the community, register for an upcoming training below. Please note the Health Department does not supply fentanyl test strips to training attendees.

Upcoming training dates and registration links:

• Thursday, April 3, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, April 23, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 8, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 20 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Fentanyl Test Strip Locations