Fentanyl is a powerful drug that can be very dangerous—even a small amount can cause an overdose. Many people don’t know that the drugs they are using may contain fentanyl. That’s why a new tool called the Defent device is being used to help people stay safer.

What Is the Defent Device?

The Defent ONE is a small tool that tests drugs for fentanyl. It looks like a USB stick or a large piece of gum. You can carry it in your pocket or backpack. It was recently handed out at big music festivals like Lollapalooza to help people avoid overdoses.

How Do You Use It?

Using the Defent device is easy and quick: 

1. Scoop a small amount of the drug into the device using the built-in scoop. 
2. Shake the device to mix the drug with water and a special chemical inside. 
3. Read the result by looking at the strip on the side of the device. It tells you if fentanyl is present.  

• • ✔ Two lines = No fentanyl detected (even if faint) 

• • ⚠ One line = Fentanyl detected – Danger! 

• • ✖ No lines = Invalid test – try again 

It’s designed to catch as little as 15ng of fentanyl. 

You don’t need any extra tools or training. It takes just a few minutes. 

Why Is It Helpful?

• It can save lives. Fentanyl is deadly in small amounts. If you know it’s in a drug, you can choose not to take it or be more careful. 
• It’s easy to carry. The device is small and fits in your pocket. 
• It’s fast. You get results in just 3 minutes. 
• It’s simple. You don’t need any experience to use it.

How Much Does It Cost?

Currently, Defent devices are being given away for free in some places like music festivals.¹ The company behind the device has it for sale on their website and on Amazon starting at $9.99 for a single use device. The price is lower if you buy more than one.

Where Can You Get One?

• At some music festivals and public events 

• From harm reduction programs 

• Some health departments may give them out 

• You can also visit the product’s website.

Check your local health department or community outreach center to see if they have them.

Are They Legal?

In most states, using a fentanyl test device is legal. Some older laws still call test strips “drug paraphernalia,” but many states are changing those rules. The Defent device is designed to be easy, safe, and helpful—not for using drugs, but for saving lives.

Simple steps to stay safer

In addition to Defent, fentanyl and xylazine test strips can help loved ones know what’s really in the drug before they use it—whether it’s heroin, meth, ecstasy, fentanyl, or fake pills. These strips can warn people if something dangerous is hiding in their drug supply.

It’s also important to have naloxone (AKA Narcan) nearby and know how to use it—it can save a life during an overdose.

If a loved one is going to use, encourage them not to do so alone. Use with a trusted person who can help if something goes wrong, or call a service like Never Use Alone, where someone stays on the phone with your loved one and sends help if needed. These small actions could mean the difference between life and death.