Trump administration cautions against federal funding for fentanyl test strips and other harm-reduction tools

The federal agency that oversees addiction and mental health policy sent an open letter to its grant recipients warning them not to spend federal money on harm‑reduction supplies such as sterile syringes, pipes, or test strips that detect fentanyl and other adulterants.

A second letter issued the same day urged caution in using medication‑only approaches to addiction treatment. It said drugs like methadone and buprenorphine, while proven to cut overdose deaths, should be part of a broader recovery plan rather than a default lifelong prescription.

The notices come amid ongoing uncertainty at the agency, which has been without a permanent director for more than a year. Critics view the guidance as a clear shift away from harm‑reduction strategies that have been central to recent public‑health efforts.