In Case You Haven't Heard

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently came out with a report on how to reduce opioid overdoses, and although fentanyl test strips weren't an official recommendation, they do mention them (see ADAW, Oct. 8). Elinore McCance‐Katz, M.D., Ph.D., also recently came out with a blog post opposing fentanyl test strips, saying “America has better weapons,” such as treatment, for opioid use disorder (https://blog.samhsa.gov/2018/10/03/for‐beating‐the‐opioid‐crisis‐america‐has‐better‐weapons‐than‐fentanyl‐test‐strips/). McCance‐Katz is assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Does her advice conflict with the CDC's report? We asked the CDC for its policy; last week, we got this response: “CDC recognizes that there are multiple evidence‐based strategies that can be implemented by states and communities to help reverse the opioid overdose epidemic. The types of opioid overdose interventions vary across and within states and can address needs ranging from primary prevention to treatment and recovery. Fentanyl testing strips are a possible component of a multipronged strategy to prevent opioid overdoses.” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which McCance‐Katz heads, funds addiction treatment. The CDC doesn't. Here is the response from SAMHSA: “There is no conflict. SAMHSA funding is awarded based on the merits of the proposals it receives. Communities across the country should be aware of potential strategies to reduce the impact of substance abuse and should adopt evidence‐based practices that address recovery comprehensively.” Incidentally, both the CDC report (https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/pubs/2018‐evidence‐based‐strategies.pdf) and McCance‐Katz's blog post came out after current appropriations for the agencies' FY 2019 budgets had been safely signed (see p. 5).