Starting in Fall 2024, Columbia’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (OOPP) will offer no-cost training on how to use fentanyl test strips*. A limited number of test strips will be available to those that complete the training.
Fentanyl test strips are a harm reduction strategy that can be used to test substances for fentanyl before consuming. Fentanyl, a highly potent opioid, has contributed to the increased rates of opioid overdoses in the last several years. We encourage individuals with strips to use them alongside additional harm reduction strategies, such as carrying naloxone. As such, fentanyl test strip training will include a section on naloxone. Columbia has been offering naloxone training since 2018.
Columbia Health will be holding open in-person fentanyl test strip trainings throughout the year. This service is open to all Columbia students, staff, faculty, and alumni. This includes Barnard College, Teachers College, Jewish Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary, and Columbia University Irving Medical Center. A student organization or department can also request a training from our OOPP.
For more information or questions, please email [email protected]. Students can also request more information or have a 1:1 conversation about fentanyl test strips and naloxone by attending Health Education Drop-ins.
*Note: The test strips can only be used to test for the presence of fentanyl. They cannot be used to test for the presence or absence of other substances. Columbia makes test strips available through a partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Columbia accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the test strips or any decisions an individual makes regarding consuming a substance after using a test strip.
