B. Background Information: Explain what the topic is about. What do we need to know beforehand? Why should we care about this topic? Provide definitions, general facts, history, and multiple perspectives on the topic.

C. Thesis Statement: Make a statement, or claim that details the three main ideas your research essay will cover.

1. What if we could greatly reduce the amount of deaths caused by an overdose, just by supplying a test strip to the public?
2.   Over 100,000 people died because of drug overdoses last year, and a staggering amount of those deaths were related to Fentanyl use. A majority of those that died due to Fentanyl use didn’t even mean to take it. A new product has hit the market which could prevent the majority of these deaths- A fentanyl test strip.
3.  While some argue that fentanyl test strips promote drug use, I argue that they encourage awareness and safety.

B. ELABORATION: Explain and clarify your point. Provide some information from your research to describe the claim made in your topic sentence.

Sentence Starters: Particularly… In particular… In fact… More specifically… More precisely… To be more precise… Namely… In other words…

C. EVIDENCE: Identifies and contextualizes evidence that supports your topic sentence. This is where you add specific quotes from research.

●        Sentence Starters: For example… For instance… According to… Based on… As stated in/by… In the article… (Make sure to add the author’s last name in parenthesis at the end of the quote.)

D. EVIDENCE: Add a second piece of evidence from research.

●        Sentence Starters: To further illustrate, this research also illustrates that… For instance… According to… Based on… As stated in/by… (Make sure to add the author’s last name in parenthesis at the end of the quote.)

1.  Most people have heard of fentanyl, but very few are aware of just how dangerous the drug truly is.
2.   Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine and needs only a few grains to kill someone. It is also more resistant to the life-saving drug Narcan.
3.  As stated by the CDC, “Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S.”
4.  As also presented by Stat,” It’s deadly because it’s so much stronger than heroin, as shown by the photograph above, which was taken at the New Hampshire State Police Forensic Laboratory. On the left is a lethal dose of heroin, equivalent to about 30 milligrams; on the right is a 3-milligram dose of fentanyl, enough to kill an average-sized adult male.”

B. ELABORATION: Explain and clarify your point. Provide some information from your research to describe the claim made in your topic sentence.

Sentence Starters: Particularly… In particular… In fact… More specifically… More precisely… To be more precise… Namely… In other words…

C. EVIDENCE: Identifies and contextualizes evidence that supports your topic sentence. This is where you add specific quotes from research.

●        Sentence Starters: For example… For instance… According to… Based on… As stated in/by… In the article… (Make sure to add the author’s last name in parenthesis at the end of the quote.)

D. EVIDENCE: Add a second piece of evidence from research.

Sentence Starters: To further illustrate, this research also illustrates that… For instance… According to… Based on… As stated in/by… (Make sure to add the author’s last name in parenthesis at the end of the quote.)

1.  The question is: Why would distributors put fentanyl into their drugs if it is so deadly? Because it is so addictive
2.  Fentanyl is both cheaper to make and harder to track than heroin, making it far more appealing for those in the drug market to both create and distribute. Producing more addicting substance creates more addicted customers, increasing the money made by those drug cartels.
3.   As presented by the National Institute of Drug Abuse: “Yes. Fentanyl is addictive because of its potency. A person taking prescription fentanyl as instructed by a doctor can experience dependence, which is characterized by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped…”
4.   As stated in a podcast episode by the Wall Street Journal: “Mexican cartels started buying what are called precursor chemicals, they’re the ingredients to make fentanyl, from Chinese factories…” Secondary, “The amount you’d need to produce a kilogram of heroin would be like $6,000. With the precursor chemicals that you can get from China, that same amount of fentanyl might cost $200 or less.”

B. ELABORATION: Explain and clarify your point. Provide some information from your research to describe the claim made in your topic sentence.

Sentence Starters: Particularly… In particular… In fact… More specifically… More precisely… To be more precise… Namely… In other words…

C. EVIDENCE: Identifies and contextualizes evidence that supports your topic sentence. This is where you add specific quotes from research.

●        Sentence Starters: For example… For instance… According to… Based on… As stated in/by… In the article… (Make sure to add the author’s last name in parenthesis at the end of the quote.)

D. EVIDENCE: Add a second piece of evidence from research.

Sentence Starters: To further illustrate, this research also illustrates that… For instance… According to… Based on… As stated in/by… (Make sure to add the author’s last name in parenthesis at the end of the quote.)

1. The idea of a test strip that can detect Fentanyl in a drug before the user takes it- therefore preventing accidental consumption and potential death- seems too good to be true. But is it?
2.  The test strip is as simple as a pregnancy or COVID test with the purpose to detect Fentanyl in a users urine, or in the drug the user is about to consume. This could greatly decrease the amount of people who accidentally take fentanyl, therefore potentially decreasing the amount of deaths directly related to fentanyl-caused overdoses. It could also prevent the number of people who use drugs.
3.  As presented by the CDC, “Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are a low-cost method of helping prevent drug overdoses and reducing harm. FTS are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in all different kinds of drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc.) and drug forms (pills, powder, and injectables).”
4. As proven in a study done in North Carolina, “81% of those with access to FTS routinely tested their drugs before use. Those with a positive test result were five times more likely to change their drug use behavior to reduce the risk of overdose.”

B. RELEVANCE: Explain why teens your age should care about the topics you discussed in your essay. How does learning about these topics impact our lives? Demonstrate how this essay relates to the world and the future of our planet.

C. NOW WHAT?/CLINCHER: State what readers can do now that they have an understanding of this topic.

1.  While some may still argue that fentanyl test strips promote frequent drug use, it is proven that access to FTS not only prevent Fentanyl related deaths, but also reduce overall drug use
2.  Many teens use drugs such as Marijuana and mushrooms, assuming that it is safer than heroin. While that is true overall, fentanyl can be put into most other drugs. An unsuspecting teenager looking for a good time may turn into a life-long drug user without intending to ever partake in the extremely dangerous substance. The distribution of fentanyl test strips could not only prevent unsuspecting users from becoming addicts, but also help current users make an informed decision in the drugs they choose to consume.
3. It is important to stay informed and act. While FTS are criminalized as drug paraphernalia in some states, they are legal to purchase in Arizona. I encourage you to buy a pack of them and always keep one on your person. If you ever find yourself in a situation where drug use is present, you may find it useful to ensure said drugs are not laced with a more deadly substance than you initially signed up for.

Knutson, Ryan . “The Push to Test Drugs for Fentanyl.” The Wall Street Journal Podcasts, 10 Mar. 2023, www.wsj.com/podcasts/the-journal/the-push-to-test-drugs-for-fentanyl/19548768-a144-4c16-b19e-9b6885b83b6b. Accessed 14 Mar. 2023.

Bond, Allison. “Why Fentanyl Is Deadlier than Heroin, in a Single Photo.” Stat, 29 Sept. 2016, www.statnews.com/2016/09/29/why-fentanyl-is-deadlier-than-heroin/. Accessed 15 Mar. 2023.

“Fentanyl Facts.” CDC, 23 Feb. 2022, www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/index.html?s_cid=DOP_Fentanyl_Search_Paid_001&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2cWgBhDYARIsALggUhoCzHqiUhrmTMcflS4NafY2RIi5cbGsibnhXcJVurkq4a4iUcccUcoaAvisEALw_wcB. Accessed 15 Mar. 2023.

“Fentanyl DrugFacts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1 Jun. 2023, nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl#:~:text=Yes.,when%20the%20drug%20is%20stopped. Accessed 15 Mar. 2023.

“Fentanyl Test Strips: A Harm Reduction Strategy.” CDC, 30 Sept. 2022, www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/fentanyl-test-strips.html#:~:text=Fentanyl%20test%20strips%20(FTS)%20are,%2C%20powder%2C%20and%20injectables). Accessed 15 Mar. 2023.

“Fentanyl Test Strips to Prevent Drug Overdose.” Minnesota Department of Health, 12 Nov. 2021, www.health.state.mn.us/communities/opioids/documents/ftsforph.pdf. Accessed 15 Mar. 2023.