At its meeting on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the Culver City Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved a partnership with DEFENT, a division of Defense Diagnostics Inc., to pilot the distribution of free, pocket-sized fentanyl test strips across the district. This initiative makes CCUSD one of the first school districts in the region to proactively expand harm-reduction tools for students and families amid a rapidly escalating fentanyl crisis.
“Keeping our students safe means meeting this crisis with honesty, compassion, and real tools,” said outgoing School Board President Triston Ezidore. “Fentanyl is taking lives across California — often because young people do not know what they’re being exposed to. Leaders have a responsibility to act before a crisis occurs, not after. By piloting this program, we are giving students and families a resource that can prevent accidental overdose and support informed, life-saving decisions.”
Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18–45, and accidental fentanyl poisonings among teens have risen sharply across California. According to the California Department of Public Health, youth fentanyl-related deaths increased by more than 625 percent in recent years. Public health experts warn that many young people who overdose never intended to use fentanyl — they encountered it unknowingly.
By launching this pilot before tragedy strikes locally, CCUSD aims to meet this moment with decisive, preventive action.
Through the pilot program, CCUSD will provide discreet, portable fentanyl test strips at no cost at District operated sites, including the Culver City Adult School. The district will gather feedback and monitor implementation as it evaluates the program’s impact on student and community safety.
Ahmad Hussain, Founder and CEO of Defense Diagnostics Inc., added, “We are proud to partner with Culver City Unified School District and the Culver City Adult School in advancing a proactive, community-centered approach to preventing unintentional fentanyl poisonings…We commend the School Board for its forward-thinking leadership in addressing fentanyl poisoning risk, and we are proud to support a pilot that enhances safety for all learners and the wider district community through education, awareness, and accessible tools.”
Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez added, “This partnership strengthens our broader student safety strategy. Alongside Narcan availability, wellness supports, and education around substance misuse, providing fentanyl test strips offers another critical layer of harm reduction for our community. We are committed to taking proactive steps that protect our students before they are ever put at risk.”
CCUSD will share additional information with families in the coming weeks regarding distribution locations, educational materials, and other pertinent information as the pilot rolls out.
Culver City Unified School District
