Los Angeles County health officials and volunteers will host workshops at music and cultural festivals throughout the region as part of an effort to combat the fentanyl crisis, it was announced on Thursday, Jan. 23.
While people wait to enter stadiums and other venues, they will have the opportunity to learn about the risks of fentanyl. They can also receive training and certification on how to administer naloxone, also known by its brand name Narcan, a live-saving opioid overdose reversal medication.
The initiative is being done through a partnership between L.A. County Department of Public Health and End Overdose, an organization dedicated to preventing overdoses. Personnel from these organizations will provide free resources to address overdoses.
“Our partnership with End Overdose enhances our ongoing efforts to put an end to the fentanyl crisis by providing critical education, training and resources to our communities,” Gary Tsai, the director of DPH’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Bureau, said in a statement.
“Together, we aim to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to prevent and respond to fentanyl-related overdoses, ultimately saving lives and fostering a safer environment for all residents of Los Angeles County,” he added.
According to DPH, almost 2,000 county residents died from an accidental fentanyl overdose or poisoning in 2023.
The partnership aims to expand the county’s ongoing Fentanyl Frontline campaign, launched in 2024 and promotes the use of naloxone.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has reported that laboratory testing currently indicates that seven out of 10 street-bought pills contain a potentially deadly dose of illicit fentanyl — and it’s difficult to see, smell or taste if a pill or powder has been laced with the opioid.
“The fentanyl crisis requires a united and proactive approach, and our partnership with the LA County Department of Public Health is a vital step in addressing this public health emergency,” Theo Krzywicki, founder and CEO of End Overdose, said in a statement. “We’re working together to ensure that no one in Los Angeles County loses a loved one to a preventable overdose.”