01. Innovative Harm Reduction: Increasing Access to Fentanyl and Xylazine Test Strips Through Stigma-Free Distribution
01.
Mia Dickinson
This poster highlights MATTERS' efforts to provide stigma-free access to fentanyl and xylazine test strips in New York State. Through a free mail-based program and 14 harm-reduction vending machines, over 19 million test strips have been distributed since August 2022. MATTERS also addresses the complexities of polysubstance use by exploring combination test strips to detect multiple contaminants. These initiatives aim to reduce overdose risks and provide critical harm-reduction tools to a broad population.