Article

In 2025, Visual Detection Systems (VDS), an Ohio-based company, announced the commercialization of First Defense, a fentanyl detection wipe designed for first responders. This handheld tool enables rapid identification of fentanyl, addressing opioid-related threats.

Field trials in Ohio, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts received positive feedback from law enforcement, with effectiveness confirmed by recent tests at the Peabody, MA police department. The First Defense wipe provides a one-step detection process that visually indicates the presence of fentanyl, enhancing safety for first responders, EMTs, and healthcare workers.