During the 31st Annual California Narcotics Canine Association (CNCA) Law Enforcement Training Institute and State Conference, SwabTek’s Executive Chairman of the Board, Matthew Hornor, disclosed the company’s most significant corporate relations campaign to date. In 2023, SwabTek has pledged to donate $100,000 worth of presumptive narcotics field tests nationwide. These donations will be focused on safeguarding first responders who are most vulnerable to Fentanyl and other hazardous narcotics exposure and poisoning. Furthermore, the company aims to support drug prevention and educational outreach programs that aim to decrease demand and prevent unintended overdoses.

The 2023 SwabTek initiative was launched with the primary objective of aiding the often ignored, but high-risk victims of fatal Fentanyl and other narcotics poisoning- the law enforcement canine officers responsible for detecting drugs. During the holidays, SwabTek donated multi-drug presumptive field test kits to every Sacramento, California canine enforcement team, as part of their efforts to support the cause.

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper was thrilled with the prospect having witnessed first-hand the uptick in the presence of fentanyl and the danger this creates for their canine workers. “The rates (of Fentanyl poisonings) have gone up. The seizures have gone up. And you are seeing more-and-more of it coming into our country. These officers run across it day in and day out; and they seize it. A lot of these dogs do narcotics detection and find these things (Fentanyl), and by then it’s too late…this SwabTek testing is a tool that we can use ahead of time, to ensure the dog’s safety, as well as the handler’s safety. It’s very timely.”

In response to the overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic feedback from the canine teams in Sacramento, SwabTek decided to expand its donations exponentially to aid canine teams nationwide. The company provided presumptive narcotics field test kits to every member representing a canine team that attended the January conference of the CNCA. This move is a continuation of the company’s commitment to supporting the safety and well-being of first responders, particularly those handling drug detection and enforcement.

Fentanyl is a type of synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin; and the Centre for Disease Control estimates it is responsible for more than 100,000 U.S. overdose deaths in the past year.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is extremely potent, being 50 times greater than heroin. According to estimates by the Centre for Disease Control, Fentanyl has been responsible for over 100,000 overdose deaths in the United States in the past year. This highlights the grave danger posed by this drug and the urgent need for measures to protect individuals from exposure to it.

Based on reports by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the FDA, working dogs are especially vulnerable to narcotics poisoning through inhalation or accidental ingestion. Given the potency of Fentanyl and opioids, even a small amount of these drugs can rapidly result in canine overdose and death. This highlights the severe risk posed to drug detection and enforcement canine officers, who are at the forefront of the fight against the drug epidemic.

“If our canine enforcement officers are exposed to deadly narcotics, the handler may have only minutes to identify the cause and administer treatment or seek emergency veterinary care,” states Hornor, a Sacramento native. “They simply don’t have time for slow, traditional protocols. Our SwabTek narcotics field tests can immediately identify the presence of dangerous drugs on site; providing handlers with vital information to keep their dogs, themselves, and their fellow officers, safe. We are very proud to make this donation. And look forward to implementing more supporting first responder safety and drug prevention programs in the upcoming year.”

Designed by an Australian with a Masters Degree in Chemistry, SwabTek’s test kits are intuitive and designed with the user in mind, replacing traditional testing kits with paper strips — eliminating the need for bulky or hazardous/carcinogenic liquid reagent dropper bottles, breakable glass ampoules and pressurised spray cans. SwabTek’s dry, paper-based tests provide a safe and simple solution to put field test kits back in the hands of frontline security professionals who have turned away from incumbent products due to concerns over safety and reliability.

Photo: SwabTek CEO Bobby Betros showcasing the presumptive narcotics field test kits at the California Narcotics Canine Association (CNCA) state conference in Sacramento.

Contact us today to discuss SwabTek’s incredible test kits!