The Brief

Fentanyl, a dangerously potent synthetic opioid, has surpassed methamphetamine for the first time to become the most common drug in fatal overdoses in Los Angeles County, authorities said.

The powerful drug accounted for 59% of all alcohol and drug overdose deaths and 92% of all opioid overdose deaths last year, according to a report from the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

“Eight to nine people per day in Los Angeles County are overdosing fatally,” said Dr. Gary Tsai, director of the department’s Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control.

A record 3,220 people died of drug overdoses in Los Angeles County in 2022. That’s a nearly 7% increase from 2021, when 3,010 people died of drug overdoses in the county, authorities said.

The report relied on data derived from medical examiner and toxicology reports. If a drug was listed as one of the causes of death, it was classified in the report as a contributor to an accidental overdose. Suicides were excluded.

A dangerous combination

Experts say fentanyl is increasingly found mixed in other drugs, including methamphetamine, in what has been called the “fourth wave” of the opioid crisis by researchers.

“The key differentiator between substance use now and substance use 10 years ago is fentanyl, because fentanyl is something where — whether you've used for a long time or whether this is the first time you're touching a substance — it can immediately be life threatening,” said Tsai, who treats people with addictions and has seen the devastating effects of both drugs first hand.

Authors of the report note the data did not allow them to determine whether people who died of overdoses involving fentanyl took the drug on purpose in combination with another drug or if they took it accidentally because it was added to another drug without their knowledge.

Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl are fueling the crisis because even a tiny amount can cause death. The Drug Enforcement Administration reported that laboratory testing indicated seven out of every 10 pills seized by the DEA last year contained a lethal dose of fentanyl.

The federal agency has so far seized a record 86 million fentanyl pills in 2023, exceeding last year’s total of 58 million pills. Some commonly faked prescription drugs include, OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, Xanax and Adderall. The DEA said counterfeit pills are being sold online and over social media.

Who is dying? 

People over the age of 26 are driving the bulk of overdoses in L.A. County, according to the report. For the first time, people between 40 and 64 years of age made up the highest number of fentanyl overdose deaths, with 870. People aged 26 to 39 were the second highest with 736 deaths.

More people in both age groups died from fentanyl overdoses in 2022 than the previous year.

Men made up the vast majority of overdose deaths in the county last year at 1,561. Women accounted for 347.

Tsai said where and how people use drugs may be factors.

“A significant risk factor for fatal overdoses is using alone," Tsai said. “I think this is a trend that we've seen for decades and decades in terms of there being more men in our substance use treatment system than women.”

People experiencing homelessness are a high risk group for overdose deaths. A record 2,201 people experiencing homelessness died in Los Angeles County in 2021, a 70% increase compared to 2019, according to a report released earlier this year from the Department of Public Health.

Drug overdoses, fueled by fentanyl and methamphetamine, were the leading cause of death.

“There's a tragedy happening in L.A., and it's happening on a daily basis,” said Will Nicholas, director of the county’s Center for Health Impact Evaluation. “On average, over the last couple years, two people every day are dying of overdose on the street [in L.A. County]. It’s a shocking number and it is preventable.”

In a striking observation, the report authors cited anecdotal reports from women users who favor methamphetamine “because its sleep-depriving effects help protect them from the sexual assaults prevalent in life on the street.” That may explain why methamphetamine contributed to a higher percentage of female versus male overdose deaths.

Instructions in a Narcan box for the prevention of opioid overdose.

(

Noé Montes

/

for LAist

)

Do you have naloxone?

Tsai calls naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, “the difference between life and death.”

Naloxone, sometimes referred to by the brand name Narcan, is now available over the counter, though it can come with a $45 price tag at some pharmacies. There are multiple places where naloxone is distributed for free, including public libraries and some consulates in L.A. County.

Tsai said the county has made “good progress” on getting more naloxone in the public’s hands, but he wants to ensure there is as much of the medication in the community as possible.

“In glove compartments of cars, in medicine cabinets in our homes, everyone should have it, because of how common overdoses are now,” he said.

Students within the Los Angeles Unified School District showed improvements on state reading, math and science standardized tests for a third consecutive year, district authorities announced Tuesday.

Superintendent Andrés Chait revealed the preliminary results at the annual opening-of-schools address at East L.A.’s Garfield High School— his first as the district’s leader since the board appointed him to the job in June.

“ These are not just numbers on a page,” Chait said to an audience that included about 1,000 principals, administrators and district supporters. “They are the result of your passion, your persistence, your belief in what students can achieve. These are collective accomplishments.

"They reflect the dedication, skill, and commitment of our entire community,” he said.

Jai Gant-Leau, principal of Eagle Tree Continuation High School, said the “back-to-basics” focus of Chait’s speech was a welcome departure from the tone of recent opening addresses.

“We will continue to rise for the outcomes and expectations for the success of our students. That's the message I got,” Gant-Leau said. “Very different than the others where it was a lot of… bells and whistles.”

Why it matters

Student achievement, as measured by test scores, plummeted during the pandemic. Los Angeles Unified’s growth in 2025 outpaced the state, as test scores exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

This year the percentage of students in all grades who met or exceeded the standard are 39.7% for math, 48.3% for English and 32.1% for science. It’s unclear how this compares to students statewide because those results have yet to be released.

Challenges ahead

Chait also acknowledged the challenges posed by declining enrollment, community fears of immigration enforcement actions and proposed budget cuts.

 “The decisions will be hard, but we cannot lose sight of what defines us,” Chait said. “We are the system that lifts students to opportunity, turns potential into achievement, creates spaces of belonging, healing, growth.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

We hope you’ve gotten used to the hot weather, because it’s going to be here for a while.

The National Weather Service has issued yet another heat advisory for much of Southern California, less than a week after other high-temperature warnings were lifted.

This week’s advisory will be in place from 10 a.m. Wednesday through Monday. Forecasters expect temperatures to climb steadily over the course of Wednesday and Thursday.

The San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and other inland areas in L.A., as well as Riverside and San Bernardino counties, will likely see highs ranging from the mid-90s to about 105 degrees. Areas closer to the coast, including downtown Los Angeles and much of Orange County, will hit the 90s. Beaches will hover mostly in the upper 70s.

Humidity will also add to the discomfort. Even though it’s decreasing slightly, it makes cooling down harder, especially at night.

People who work outdoors or do not have air conditioning are especially at risk from the heat and humidity, along with people over 65, young children and other sensitive populations.

Fire risk

Forecasters are warning that conditions are ripe for fires, driven by a combination of wind and dry vegetation.

Southern California hasn’t seen much rain recently, despite the humidity, leaving plants with little moisture and turning them into the perfect fuel.

“Even though the air feels kind of moist, we're in the time of season where it doesn't matter. The fuels are dry and they're ready to go,” said NWS meteorologist Ryan Kittell.

Kittel said people should take extra care with anything that could create a spark, and residents in fire-prone areas should remain aware of their surroundings in case a fire starts.

The fire risk is likely to be concentrated in a few specific areas that will experience higher winds than others, including parts of the 5 Freeway corridor in northern L.A. County, especially around the Grapevine, and in southern Santa Barbara County.

For most of the region, though, winds should stay fairly mild.

Dangerous beach conditions

Southern Californians also have to contend with some ocean-specific risks this week.

Forecasters expect dangerously large waves and strong rip currents to hit the coastline at a time when the heat may drive more people to the beach. The conditions are expected to persist through the weekend.

If you decide to head to the beach, it’s a good idea to ask a lifeguard for advice on the conditions before entering the water. It’s also recommended to swim only near occupied lifeguard stands, stay off of rock jetties and avoid turning your back to the waves.

South-facing stretches of coastline will bear the brunt of the swell, which is being driven by two tropical storms churning hundreds of miles away in the Pacific Ocean.

“Those two systems generated the winds and the waves locally that are pushing towards us, and so that's creating elevated surf and some stronger currents than normal,” Kittel said.

The swell is not expected to cause significant coastal flooding as high tides remain relatively low.

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Free transportation to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area swim beach will be available this week as East LA families continue to seek relief from another heat wave and the aftermath of the Lineage warehouse fire.

Los Angeles County is offering complimentary transportation Wednesday through Saturday at select Eastside parks so residents can enjoy a day at the lake at no cost.

More than a month after the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire, many residents continue to report persistent odors from rotting food and cleanup efforts. Because of the ongoing air quality concerns and community complaints, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation has canceled its local aquatic programming.

To ensure families still have access to summer recreational activities, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis directed resources toward providing the “beach bus” program to Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area Swim Beach in Irwindale.

Read below for more information on the free shuttle services, schedules and more. 

Pickup locations

Belvedere Aquatic Center

5035 1st St. East Los Angeles, CA 90022

Obregon Park Pool

4021 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90063

Salazar Park Pool 

3864 Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90023

City Terrace Park Pool

1126 N. Hazard Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90063

Shuttle dates and times 

• Wednesday, July 22
• Thursday, July 23
• Friday, July 24
• Saturday, July 25

Morning trip: 

• Check in at 8:30 a.m. 
• The bus departs East LA at 9 a.m. 
• The bus leaves Santa Fe Dam to go back to East LA at 12 p.m.

Afternoon trip: 

• Check in at 12:30 p.m. 
• The bus departs East LA at 1 p.m. 
• The bus leaves Santa Fe Dam to go back to East LA at 4 p.m. 

What to know

No registration or proof of address is required, but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring your own food and drinks. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.