On June 22, Governor Josh Green signed SB 671, a bill to exempt fentanyl test strips from the state’s drug paraphernalia law. “As a state, we need to be compassionate and focus on harm reduction,” Governor Green stated in a press release.
HHHRC Executive Director Heather Lusk appeared on a June 6 KITV story noting that fentanyl test strips may soon be made available in vending machines providing nasal naloxone (Narcan) and other harm reduction supplies.
HHHRC Grants & Advancement Manager Nikos Leverenz was quoted in a lead editorial from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on June 8 that called for increased action to prevent accidental overdose, including a bill by Honolulu Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos Tam to require that establishments serving liquor have Narcan on hand. Leverenz noted that the illicit drug supply on the continent includes xylazine, which cannot be countered with Narcan.
HHHRC Medical Director Dr. Christina Wang was quoted in a June 14 story on Hawaii News Now regarding a warning letter sent to Honolulu EMS by the city’s medical director that xylazine is present in the illicit drug supply.
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