Why We Do It
73,838 people died in 2022 from a fentanyl overdose in the US, with nearly 24x more deaths in 2022 than 2013
West Virginia has the highest overdose death rate in the USA, nearly 3x the national average.
When adjusted for population, West Virginia had the highest rate of overdose deaths and fentanyl overdose deaths in the country in 2022. West Virginia had 60.8 deaths per 100,000 people due to fentanyl overdoses, which is about 34% higher than Delaware, the state with the second-highest rate.
Drug use among young adults 18-25 is the highest among all age groups, with 38% using an illicit drug within the past year
About 1 in 5 of full-time college students aged 18-22 used an illicit drug in the past month. Considering college aged students are at high risk for substance abuse, understanding the scale of the crisis and the associated risk factors is key to avoiding a potentially life-shattering experience.
What We Do
Test Strips Save Lives Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Morgantown, WV, working to reduce overdoses by expanding access to fentanyl test strip kits and raising awareness. We focus on reaching young adults who may unknowingly be exposed to fentanyl—often hidden in recreational drugs. People without opioid tolerance are especially at risk, and accidental poisonings are becoming tragically common.
We were founded in memory of a close friend who died after taking a drug laced with fentanyl. In response, we created a low-barrier distribution network in partnership with local businesses, where anyone can pick up free test strip kits.
Fentanyl test strips are a simple harm reduction tool that helps people make informed decisions. While no test is perfect, we recommend using strips alongside other safety practices.
Use fentanyl test strips
Carry Narcan
Never use alone
Find locations for free test strips HERE and free Narcan HERE.
Understanding and Preventing Overdoses
Except for suicides, overdose deaths are always accidental. The word “overdose” has sometimes carried a moral judgment that the individual was “pushing their limits” in order to get as high as possible, as if it were their own fault.
This is not true. “Overdose” simply means taking too much of a drug, and it is always accidental. Even daily opioid users who know that fentanyl is in their product have no way of knowing the amount.
Instead of blaming others, let’s work together to end accidental overdoses.