San Diego County health officials are sounding the alarm after cocaine sold in the city tested positive for fentanyl, a synthetic opioid so potent that an amount about the size of two grains of salt can be deadly. County leaders and harm-reduction groups are urging anyone who uses cocaine or other street drugs to carry naloxone and to test their supply with fentanyl test strips before using.
County And Harm-Reduction Groups Urge Precautions
The county health department issued the warning in a post on X. In that advisory, San Diego County HHSA said cocaine in the local supply has been found laced with fentanyl and recommended that people carry naloxone and use fentanyl test strips to lower the risk of overdose.
Be a lifesaver and carry naloxone! Fentanyl-laced cocaine has been found in San Diego, and consuming a dose as small as two grains of salt can lead to an overdose. You can help prevent or stop an overdose by carrying naloxone and fentanyl test strips. https://t.co/e7B7RQ2Z9v pic.twitter.com/qkD9dVKKuU
— SD HHSA (@SDCountyHHSA) March 14, 2026
The San Diego Opioid Project lists free naloxone pick-up locations and fentanyl test strip distribution points around the county, along with brief how-to instructions so people know how to use them before an emergency hits.
Why Fentanyl In Stimulants Is Especially Dangerous
According to the DEA, fentanyl is about 50 times stronger than heroin, and as little as two milligrams can be lethal. Federal health data show that synthetic opioids are increasingly turning up alongside stimulants such as cocaine, a combination that is especially risky for people who do not expect an opioid in their drugs, as highlighted by CDC analyses.
How Naloxone And Test Strips Can Save A Life
Naloxone can quickly reverse an opioid overdose, but its protective effect is temporary and typically lasts only about 30 to 90 minutes, so anyone revived still needs prompt medical evaluation and monitoring, according to NCBI clinical guidance.
Fentanyl test strips can show whether fentanyl is present in a drug supply, but they cannot tell you how strong the dose is or whether other substances have been added. A peer-reviewed study on PMC found that people who use test strips are more likely to adopt safer drug-use practices and have a lower risk of overdose.
Legal Protections And Where To Get Help
California’s 911 Good Samaritan law offers limited immunity for low-level drug possession to people who call for emergency help during a suspected overdose. The bill text for AB 472 is available on LegiScan.
For local prevention and harm-reduction resources, the county provides information on naloxone and fentanyl test strip distribution, and anyone facing a mental health or substance use crisis can call or text 9-8-8 for confidential support, according to SAMHSA.
If you or someone you know needs naloxone or fentanyl test strips, the San Diego Opioid Project and the county prevention pages at San Diego County HHSA list free pickup locations. If you witness a suspected overdose, call 911 immediately, since calling for help can offer legal protection under California law.
