The post Oregon Police Stop Drug Field Tests Because of Fentanyl Exposure appeared first on High Times.
The growing prevalence of fentanyl is prompting some law enforcement agencies to change the way they handle possible drug cases. Most recently, Oregon State Police have decided to stop conducting field tests. The change is a response to rising concerns about police safety.
No More Field Tests
Oregon Police recently announced the new change. Previously, field tests for suspected illegal drugs were a common practice among cops in the state.
When police encountered what they suspected to be an illegal drug, the used a small and quick field test kit. Officers would place a small amount of the suspected drug into a hand-sized pouch. They would then add a chemical that changes color based on the composition of the substance.
These field tests could be used quickly on the spot to determine if a suspicious substance was really an illegal drug or not. But now, police in Oregon will no longer conduct field tests. Instead, they will rely on state drug testing labs to come up with results.
Concerns Over Fentanyl
The change comes as a direct response to the rising number of encounters police now has with fentanyl. The drug is a powerful opioid roughly 200 times more potent than morphine and can quickly turn fatal.
Fentanyl is becoming more and more common. Local Oregon media reported that three years ago, Oregon officials had only two fentanyl cases. That number has since spiked, and last year, the state saw a record-high 45 fentanyl cases.
Similarly, there was only one fentanyl death in Oregon two years ago. But last year, there were 58 fentanyl