Fentanyl testing kits are being distributed through police departments across Massachusetts to help opioid users make better decisions about their drug use and avoid an overdose.

People who have an opioid use disorder often say they started by using prescription pain medication such as Oxycontin. People who begin with pills end up needing more and more of the same drug to get high. Eventually, the prescription pad dries up, and a doctor managing pain medication may flag a person for suspected opioid misuse. This often makes people turn to the street for their prescription pills, without ever realizing the drug they take also has a deadly dose of fentanyl in it, which can lead to overdose deaths. Many people who once used pills switch to heroin as well.

Harm Reduction Through Fentanyl Testing

In Boston and other cities, a newly …