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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that he has signed an executive order that will allow for “the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to adopt a rule allowing expanded access to tools to prevent drug overdoses.”
This executive order suspends the normal rulemaking process, the governor’s office said. Tests for Xylazine, Medetomidine, Benzimidazole-opioids and Benzodiazepine and benzodiazepine-related compounds will be exempted from drug paraphernalia definitions.
They said this is in addition to fentanyl test strips and reagent kits.
“Items such as test strips have been shown to reduce the risk of overdose, and these items are important in Ohio’s overall strategy to lower overdose deaths,” DeWine said in a news release Thursday. “We are removing barriers for communities to access tools that prevent overdose and save lives.”
The governor’s office states these tools can be used to reduce harm and allow people to perform tests for substances associated with overdose deaths.
“Test strips and reagent kits are important components to reducing harm caused by illicit drugs,” Ohio Board of Pharmacy Executive Director Steven Schierholt said in the release. “By decriminalizing these public health tools, we can help people who use drugs stay alive with the ultimate goal of recovery.”
View the executive order here:
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Cody Thompson
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