Free fentanyl test strips are available Wednesday at participating libraries in Los Angeles County.
The L.A. County Library system operates the naloxone clinics as part of an initiative with the California Department of Health Care Services.
Tests strips have been available since early November, on Wednesdays from noon to 4 p.m. at the following 13 library locations:
AC Bilbrew
Claremont Helen Renwick
Compton
East Los Angeles
El Monte
Lancaster
Leland R. Weaver
Lennox
Malibu
Norwalk
San Fernando
Temple City
West Hollywood
The strips can detect the presence of fentanyl -- a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Even a tiny amount can be fatal, county officials said.
Users dissolve a small sample in water, dip the strip into the solution and wait for results to appear within five minutes. One line indicates the presence of fentanyl, while two lines indicate a negative result.
More information is available at LACountyLibrary.org/naloxone.
"Young people are at risk and parents are scared," said County Supervisor Janice Hahn.
"Bringing these life-saving tools like test strips and naloxone into libraries and making them as accessible as possible to every community makes sense," Hahn added. "I'm thankful to our L.A. County Library staff for their willingness to be this critical resource for the communities they serve."
Additional reporting by City News Service.
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