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WEBVTT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEW EFFORT. KRISTIEN: RYAN FOWLER HAS BEEN I RECOVERY FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS , AND NOW, HE’S LOOKING TO HELP OTHERS AS OVERDOSE DEATHS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE THE STATES. >> TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE READY, THEY CAN USE THE RESOURCES HERE. KRISTEN: FOWLER WORKS FOR THE SAFE HARBOR RECOVERY CENTER AND IS NOW OFFERING FREE FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS SO PEOPLE CAN CHECK THE DRUGS THEY’RE ABOUT TO USE. HE IS PAYING FOR THE STRIPS HIMSELF. >> IT IS BEING FOUND PRESENT IN MOST OF THE DRUG SUPPLY, FROM OBVIOUSLY HEROIN, COCAINE, METHAMPHETAMINE, EVEN ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF CANNABIS TESTING POSITIVE. KRISTEN: HE’S HOPING THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ABUSING DRUGS WILL AT THE VERY LEAST BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE’S FENTANYL IN THEM, A DRUG THAT HAS BEEN THE LEADING CAUSE OF OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE STATE FOR YEARS. >> ALL OVERDOSE DEATH IS PREVENTABLE. PEOPLE NEED TO BE ALIVE TO ENTER RECOVERY. KRISTEMN: PORTSMOUTH POLICE SAY DRUG OVERDOSES IN THE CITY CONTINUE TO CLIMB, WITH THE MOST RECENT HAPPENING JUST TWO DAYS AGO. LIEUTENANT DARREN SARGENT SAYS ANY LIFE SAVING METHOD IS A GOOD THING, BUT OFFICERS WARN PEOPLE TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION. >> IF YOU’RE RELYING ON THE STRIPS SHOWING A POSITIVE VERSUS NEGATIVE, THIS IS YOUR LIFE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

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A recovery center in Portsmouth is using a new approach to prevent opioid-related deaths by giving out fentanyl test strips so users can see what's in their drugs.Ryan Fowler has been in recovery for nearly four years, and now, he's trying to help others as overdose deaths continue to plague the state."I'm just trying to make sure that people are alive, so when they are ready, they can come to a place like Safe Harbor and utilize the recovery resources here," he said.Fowler, who works for the Safe Harbor Recovery Center, is paying for the test strips himself, so people can check the drugs they're about to use."Fentanyl is now present in most of the drug supply, from heroin, cocaine, meth and even some cannabis testing positive," he said.Fowler said he hopes that people who are abusing drugs will at the very least be able to figure out if there's fentanyl in them. Experts said the drug has been the leading cause of overdose deaths in the state for years."Through harm reduction, all overdose deaths are preventable. All new cases of disease from drug use is preventable, and people need to be alive to enter recovery," Fowler said.Portsmouth police said drug overdoses in the city continue to climb, with the most recent happening two days ago."It has certainly not subsided," said Lt. Darren Sargent.Sargent said any lifesaving method is a good thing, but he warned people to proceed with caution."You are relying on a strip to show one line or two, whether it's positive or not, and this is your life we are talking about," he said.