Summary:
Defense Diagnostics Inc. (DDI) partners with LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn to distribute DEFENT ONE fentanyl detection devices across District 4, providing free, accessible harm reduction tools to combat the opioid crisis.
Takeaways:
- Innovative Detection – DEFENT ONE is an all-in-one, portable fentanyl detection device that simplifies testing without additional materials.
- Community Distribution – Free devices are available at various locations, including colleges and shelters, making harm reduction tools widely accessible.
- Data-Driven Safety – Users can anonymously report positive test results via a QR code, helping identify fentanyl hotspots and enhance public safety efforts.
Defense Diagnostics Inc. (DDI), a private sector medical diagnostics company, announces a partnership with Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn to directly address the opioid crisis by working against the devastating impact of fatal and nonfatal overdoses across District 4 and neighboring communities.
Fentanyl Detection Devices Available Across LA County
This forward-thinking partnership kicks off with the distribution of DEFENT ONE All-In-One Fentanyl Detection Devices across LA County, the patent-pending, portable detection device is designed with innovative science and technology to make testing substances quick and easy. Devices can now be found at the below locations, providing residents with access, free of charge, to harm reduction tools that are proven to prevent accidental fentanyl poisonings effectively:
- Long Beach Community College
- Harbor Interfaith Services
- Rio Hondo College
- Harbor College
- Whittier First Day
- Whittier LGBTQ Center
- Salvation Army Bell Shelter
- San Pedro Recovery Alliance
- Cerritos College
“Partnering with Supervisor Janice Hahn and her team in LA County represents a pivotal moment for DEFENT, which we look to replicate in other counties,” says Ahmad Hussain, CEO and Founder of DEFENT. “Together, we are committed to pioneering new standards in public safety and harm reduction. We encourage other elected officials to follow Supervisor Hahn’s lead by investing resources into their communities, rather than maintaining the status quo.”
All-in-one Design
DEFENT ONE’s all-in-one design has eliminated the need for additional materials, such as a water container or measuring tools. This simplicity allowed 91% of third-party study participants to prepare their supplies correctly without errors, compared to just 6% with traditional fentanyl test strips. Study participants believe that DEFENT ONE’s portability makes it suitable for diverse environments, like bars, clubs, bathrooms and homes, unlike traditional fentanyl test strips, which are mostly limited to in-home use due to their reliance on external components.
A scannable QR code can be found on the back of the DEFENT ONE packaging, taking substance testing to the next level by giving users the option to anonymously report positive test results and identify fentanyl hot spots for residents and neighboring communities. DEFENT has already seen 50-60 positive fentanyl reports in LA County since the device’s launch in December 2024, and the brand is actively working with other communities in Southern California to get devices in the hands of more residents in the state.
“Fighting fentanyl poisonings is about saving lives, so we have to put every possible tool at the disposal of our residents and our communities. 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,” says Supervisor Janice Hahn. “We need to outmaneuver this crisis, and this effort is part of the solution, along with our work to make Narcan more easily available.”
Featured Image: the DEFENT ONE is a fentanyl detection device being distributed throughout Los Angeles County. Photo: Defense Diagnostics
