More than 3,500 devices that detect the presence of fentanyl in recreational drugs with the goal of better preventing fentanyl poisonings have been distributed to Los Angeles County community colleges and organizations that provide services to the homeless and other vulnerable residents, officials announced Wednesday.
In 2023, 94% of opioid overdose deaths in the county involved fentanyl. That same year, overdoses were the leading cause of death among homeless people in the county, and fentanyl poisonings have been a growing danger for young people, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn said.
“Fighting fentanyl poisonings is about saving lives, so we have to put every possible tool at the disposal of our residents and our communities,” Hahn said in a statement. “These testing devices are both innovative and easy to use. I look forward to getting these thousands of devices into the hands of people whose lives could be saved by them. We need to outmaneuver this crisis and this effort is part of the solution along with our work to make Narcan more easily available.”
Hahn said her office purchased 3,600 of the devices and distributed them this week to nine sites across her district.
“Fentanyl doesn’t just take lives — it shatters families, destroys bright futures, and fuels addiction in every community,” said L.A. County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “By increasing awareness and implementing preventative measures such as this device, we can make a real difference in the fight against fentanyl and more importantly save lives.”
The devices are manufactured by the Marina del Rey-based medical diagnostics company Defense Diagnostics Inc. The portable, single-use Defent One device is small enough to fit in a pocket and contains all of the materials necessary to conduct a fentanyl detection test, unlike other methods which require clean water and a separate container, the company said.
“We’re thrilled to be deploying Defent One, with the gracious partnership of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, as a community engagement tool to the residents of L.A. County,” said Ahmad Hussain, chief executive and founder of Defent. “The device’s capabilities extend beyond just fentanyl detection, also encouraging open conversations about the dangers of counterfeit pills and opioids.”