This week, WAFB9 News shared some significant updates to the ongoing battle against the opioid epidemic in the state of Louisiana.
In response to the growing overdose crisis in Louisiana, State Senator Brach Myers of Lafayette has introduced a new bill designed to expand the state’s existing drug testing laws. The legislation seeks to broaden what types of drug test strips are considered legal to possess, moving beyond just fentanyl detection.
Currently, only fentanyl test strips are permitted under Louisiana law. Strips used to detect other controlled substances remain classified as drug paraphernalia, which means that possession could technically lead to legal trouble. Senator Myers is working to change that, arguing that access to a broader range of testing tools could help save lives.
“By no means should this be condoning drug use, but in the circumstance where someone is going to use, I would prefer them to live if they’re going to use it anyway,” Myers stated. “Like today, if you had a fentanyl test strip on you, that would be classified as drug paraphernalia. But if that test strip was testing for other controlled substances or narcotic substances, then it could be classified as drug paraphernalia - until this bill is enacted.”
He noted that in 2023 alone, Louisiana saw over 2,200 deaths from drug poisonings—many of which were caused by users unknowingly ingesting lethal substances.
Under current law, if someone carries a fentanyl test strip, it's legal. But if that same strip is designed to test for another narcotic, it could still be considered illegal paraphernalia—unless this new bill becomes law.
Supporters of the legislation include Dr. Susan Julius, Medical Director of Avenues Recovery Center in Louisiana and a person in long-term recovery herself. Dr. Julius emphasizes that the drug landscape has changed dramatically. “People don’t even know what they’re using anymore,” she said. “Addiction is a disease. People struggling with it will still use regardless of legal barriers, but providing them with safe, legal tools for testing substances can literally be the difference between life and death.”
Dr. Julius added that the bill is a step forward in harm reduction - a public health strategy aimed at minimizing the negative consequences of drug use rather than solely focusing on abstinence.
The bill has already passed through the committee and the full Senate without opposition. It now heads to the Louisiana House of Representatives, where it will be debated in the coming weeks.
As communities across the country confront rising overdose deaths, this legislation represents a pragmatic shift—one that prioritizes saving lives through awareness, education, and access to safer practices.