Field-Based Drug Supply Surveillance Tools: Frequently Asked Questions

Nearly $60 billion is flowing into local communities across the US from legal settlements with opioid makers, distributors, and marketers, accused of precipitating the devastating overdose crisis. This windfall offers an opportunity to help communities heal through supporting programs that connect people who use drugs to services and care. Yet in too many places, we see opioid settlement funds supporting drug war approaches that have failed us for more than 50 years. One example of this is spending on handheld drug detection devices for police, which are used as a tool for making arrests. A new fact sheet examines whether there is evidence that providing these devices to law enforcement is effective in saving lives. It also explores promising community-based programs that use drug checking equipment to understand changes in the drug supply and report results back to people who use drugs, providing opportunities for knowledge and behavior change.

For further guidance on opioid settlement spending, see A National Roadmap for Spending Opioid Settlement Funds in 2026: Supporting Communities and Ending the Overdose Crisis.

About this Document: This document was written by Tricia Christensen, MPP, Abigail Winiker, PhD, MSPH, and Roxanne Saucier, MPH. It was supported by the Open Society Foundations (Christensen & Saucier). The authors thank Nabarun Dasgupta, MPH, PhD, for reviewing a draft of the document for accuracy.