Long Beach residents can now get free harm-reduction kits mailed straight to their homes, giving people private access to fentanyl and xylazine test strips, educational materials, and two doses of naloxone. The new mail option is aimed at residents who cannot or will not pick up supplies in person, and at anyone who prefers to handle drug safety in private. City officials say the kits ship in plain, unmarked packaging and are processed quickly, typically landing in mailboxes within a few days.
According to a City of Long Beach press release, anyone with a Long Beach mailing address can request a free Harm Reduction Response Kit online and have it delivered discreetly. “Overdose prevention is about protecting lives and meeting people where they are,” Mayor Rex Richardson said, while Health Department Director Alison King called the expanded program “a practical, evidence-based prevention strategy.” The city says orders are usually processed within 48 hours and typically arrive within three business days.
What’s in the kit and how to order
Each mailed package includes single-use fentanyl and xylazine test strips, step-by-step instructions, and educational materials, plus two doses of naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose. As InsideLB News noted, the city first piloted in-person distribution, then added mail delivery to reach residents dealing with transportation issues, privacy concerns, or tight schedules. Long Beach residents can request a kit using the city’s online request form.
Numbers show where risk is concentrated
Preliminary data from the Health Department's Vital Records Office show roughly 224 fentanyl-involved overdose deaths among Long Beach residents between 2022 and 2024. Nearly half of those deaths occurred in homes, and most of the people who died were men between 25 and 34 years old. The city reports that four zip codes, 90813, 90802, 90805, and 90806, together made up about 47 percent of those fatalities.
Officials also point to a 39 percent drop in fentanyl-related overdose deaths when comparing preliminary 2023 and 2024 numbers, a shift they partly credit to prevention work and wider access to naloxone, according to the City press release.
City response and next steps
The mail program follows City Council direction to pursue no-cost fentanyl detection tools and new distribution pilots, an item brought forward in November 2024 by Second District Councilwoman Cindy Allen, according to local reporting. Some of the expansion is backed by opioid settlement funds that the city is using to boost testing and naloxone access. For more context on the rollout, see coverage in the Long Beach Press-Telegram.
The Health Department also offers free community workshops and training for providers on overdose prevention and naloxone administration. Residents looking for help or treatment for opioid use disorder, or simply wanting to keep a kit on hand, can contact the department or use the online request form to have supplies mailed to any Long Beach address.
