DHS Distributes Free Xylazine Test Strips, Renews Statewide Naloxone Standing Order for Pharmacies

As part of a continued, comprehensive response to the state’s drug overdose epidemic, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is distributing more than 131,000 xylazine test strips to community organizations and renewing the statewide naloxone standing order for pharmacists.

“Drug overdoses are preventable when we know what to do and how to do it,” said DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson. “When solutions like xylazine test strips and naloxone exist, we must do all we can to make these tools accessible and available to people who use drugs, their families, friends, and others who want them to be safe. Equally important is making sure people are trained on how to use these tools effectively.”

Xylazine test strips are a form of drug checking technology. The paper slips are dipped into residue of opioids dissolved in water. Within minutes, the person using drugs can know whether the substance contains xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer that is unsafe for humans and is some times mixed into drugs, especially fentanyl. Xylazine can increase the risk of a fatal overdose and cause serious skin infections. It has been detected in at least 35 Wisconsin counties. Seventy-eight agencies have received packages of xylazine test strips as part of this first-ever DHS-backed statewide distribution. Each package contains one xylazine test strip with information about how to use it and what to do if xylazine is detected. The DHS website includes a map of pickup locations and there is no limit to the number of xylazine test strips someone can get.

The renewal of the Naloxone Standing Order for Pharmacists continues to give Wisconsinites access to naloxone without a prescription at participating pharmacies. Naloxone is the opioid overdose reversal medication. Unlike previous naloxone standing orders for pharmacists issued since 2016, this version does not expire and allows participating pharmacies to dispense the 3mg nasal spray in addition to the 4mg nasal spray and injectable formulations of naloxone. High dose naloxone products and other opioid overdose reversal medications like nalmefene are not covered by this standing order. There is no evidence to demonstrate high dose naloxone or nalmefene are more effective than the products included in the standing order.

While there is a charge for naloxone, many pharmacy benefit plans partially cover the cost when purchased through a pharmacist. More than 300 pharmacies are using the statewide naloxone standing order for pharmacists. See a map of locations where naloxone is available on the DHS website.

The distribution of xylazine test strips and renewal of the statewide naloxone standing order for pharmacists are two of the many strategies to reduce the harms of drug use supported by DHS. These strategies include:

• Launching a system in 2024 known as the Wisconsin Suspected Overdose Alerts for Rapid Response for health and human services professionals to monitor suspected drug overdoses in their communities in near real-time, giving them the information they need to limit spikes in drug overdoses.
• Deploying mobile response teams to communities with high rates of drug overdoses to distribute free lifesaving resources that prevent overdoses and reduce injury. This strategy has been helping to keep communities safer since September 2023. See a list of communities served by this team and the timing of their visits on the DHS website.
• Distributing fentanyl test strips, which are used in the same way as xylazine test strips, to help people who use drugs detect the presence of this potent opioid in their drug supply. More than 700,000 fentanyl test strips have been shared with organizations for community distribution at no cost since 2023. See a map of locations where fentanyl test strips are available for free on the DHS website.
• Distributing more than 780,000 doses of naloxone to organizations for community distribution at no cost since 2019. See a map of locations where naloxone is available for free on the DHS website.

These strategies are saving lives. Final 2024 Wisconsin data is expected to show a significant year-over-year decrease in the number of drug overdose deaths when it is released later this year. This decline is despite growing use of multiple substances at one time or polysubstance use, which creates challenges for drug overdose prevention and reversal. Most polysubstance use is unintentional because of a range of additives being mixed into today’s drug supply.

Anyone needing help finding services and supports for a substance use concern can connect with trained resource specialists at the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline by calling 211 or 833-944-4673, texting a ZIP code to 898211, or chatting at additionhelpwi.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.