drug use harm reduction

The federal government will no longer help states pay for fentanyl test strips. This was among several messages included in a “Dear Colleague” letter sent late last week by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to state health departments and federal grant recipients. The decision, according to the letter, is consistent with the agency’s indication last year about its “… clear shift away from harm reduction and practices that facilitate illicit drug use…”  SAMHSA’s action reflects a view within the administration and Department of Health and Human Services that harm reduction efforts – like fentanyl test [...]