Republican state Sen. Holly Thompson of Scott City sponsored legislation to decriminalize the harm reduction tool. She hopes this will help lower opioid overdoses.

A new law signed by Gov. Mike Parson has decriminalized fentanyl test strips, which supporters hope will reduce opioid-related drug overdoses.

“I grew up in sexual violence, drug addiction [and] got married at 15… I understand what addiction looks like,” state Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, a Republican from Sikeston who introduced legislation, told KCUR.

Rehder said the tests are a necessary harm reduction tool. “We need to be helping people stay alive and get them healthy and get them back to a good life.”

Kansas legalized fentanyl test strips earlier this year.