New Hampshire
'No Safe Experience': New Hampshire Officials Stress Fentanyl Awareness Tuesday
CONCORD, NH — Fentanyl continues to be mixed into many illicit drugs with devastating results.
Last year, three individuals were found dead in a Littleton home after reportedly ingesting cocaine laced with fentanyl. Cases like this, where individuals experiment with drugs and result in catastrophic consequences, are why there is “No Safe Experience” when it comes to taking illicit drugs because they could contain fentanyl.
With National and New Hampshire Fentanyl Awareness Day on May 7, officials in New Hampshire are calling on all individuals to be aware of the life-threatening dangers associated with fentanyl, a substance that is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin and morphine. The statewide public awareness campaign “No Safe Experience” focuses on educating youth, young adults and families of the prevalence of fentanyl in illicit drugs and counterfeit pills and a very small dose can lead to death due to its high potency.
According to the New Hampshire Department of Safety, there were 430 overdose deaths in the Granite State in 2023. Of these, nearly 85 percent were from substances where fentanyl was present. In the same year, there were 4,080 suspected overdose incidents reported, many of which required Narcan use by first responders. Death tolls may have been significantly higher if these measures were not taken.
“Fentanyl is an unforgiving, deadly, invisible killer that can take the life of anyone who decides to use an illicit substance,” Colonel Mark Hall, the director of the New Hampshire State Police, said. “It is important to create a high level of awareness that there is No Safe Experience when it comes to illicit drugs and fake pills, as our forensic lab commonly finds fentanyl in these types of substances.”
Gov. Chris Sununu issued a proclamation declaring May 7, 2024, Fentanyl Awareness Day in New Hampshire. The proclamation stated that “illicit fentanyl use is widespread and deadly and poses a significant public health risk. The State of New Hampshire joins all those who have been affected by fentanyl misuse in spreading awareness of the harm that fentanyl can cause; resources are available for loved ones dealing with substance misuse; and reminds all Granite Slaters there is No Safe Experience when consuming any drugs that have not been prescribed by a medical provider and taken by the person they were prescribed to as directed by a healthcare professional.”
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid typically used to treat patients with chronic severe pain or severe pain following surgery. A dose the size of a few grains of salt can be lethal, and it is often found to be mixed with other illicit substances, including cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin. It is now regularly seen in fake pills branded as Oxycodone and Percocet, among others, and is undetectable without testing.
According to an April 2024 report by Statista, there has been a dramatic surge in drug overdose deaths in the U.S. over the past 10 years, which is primarily driven by the rise of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. According to preliminary data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose deaths exceeded 110,000 in 2022, with synthetic opioids involved in 76,000 of those deaths.
The No Safe Experience campaign will run through the fall and is focused on individuals who may be inclined to try substances without fully understanding what they are, where they came from and what might actually be in them. The campaign includes videos, public service announcements, social media resources, billboards, and an informational website. Posters, racks cards and decals were distributed to 217 public middle and high schools and educational toolkits and resources are available to schools across the state.
For more information, facts, and resources, visit NoSafeExperience.org.
Submitted by the New Hampshire Department of Public Safety.
New Hampshire
Missing Berlin Motorcyclist Found Dead After Route 2 Crash: New Hampshire State Police Roundup
06/19/2026 02:16, EAST KINGSTON, BOLDUC, NATHAN RICHARD (22); ASHFORD, CONNECTICUT, 635:1,I (BURGLARY-NIGHT / HOME / WEAPON), 635:1,V (BURGLARY TOOLS-POSSESSION), 637:7 (RECV STOLEN PROP; $1501+), 637:7 (RECV STOLEN PROP; $1501+), 634:2,II (CRIMINAL MISCHIEF).
06/15/2026 19:49, RAYMOND, KETCHEN, DANA CANNEY (63); BROOKLINE, 265-A:2,I(A) (DUI-IMPAIRMENT), 264:25 (CONDUCT AFTER ACCIDENT), 265-A:2,I(B) (DUI; ADULT>.08; MINOR>.02), 172-B:3 (PROTECTIVE CUSTODY-ALCOHOL), 265-A:44 (TRANSPORTING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR MARIJUANA).
06/15/2026 21:05, GILFORD, SEXTON, JALEN R. (26); ALTON, 263:64,VI (DRIVE AFTER REV/SUS-SUBSQT), 263:64,IV (DRIVE AFTER REVOCATION/SUSPENSION; RECKLESS DRIVING), 263:1,II (LICENSE REQD; OP W/EXPIRED LICENSE W/IN 12 MONTHS OF EXPIRATION), 265:60 (SPEEDING 25 MPH OVER LIMIT OF 55 OR LESS).
06/16/2026 02:40, PORTSMOUTH, LANE, MICHAEL CORY (29); HUBBARDSTON, MA, 631:3 (RECKLESS CONDUCT), 265-A:2,I(A) (DUI-IMPAIRMENT), 265:79,I (RECKLESS OPERATION).
06/16/2026 17:16, GILFORD, COSTARELLI, ROBERT L. (55); EAST BRIDGEWATER, MA, 631:2-B,I(A) (DV; SIMPLE ASSAULT; BODILY INJURY OR PHYSICAL CONTACT), 634:2,III (CRIMINAL MISCHIEF).
New Hampshire
Concord City Manager Receives ‘Satisfactory’ Review, 2.5% Raise, But Sabbatical Request Gets Trimmed
Schultz said she “highly respects” Aspell, too, but there was a “dissonance between reality” when eyeing what the public and city employees were earning.
Ward 6 City Council Aislinn Kalob, too, would not be voting for the increase, saying it had been “heavily on my mind since we’ve had our nonpublic sessions,” which lasted about six hours of work. She appreciated Kretovic clearly outlining the job of city manager. But people were frustrated with the city manager, and she saw that in the comments in online forums.
“I do feel, after really digging into this, and learning about his job,” she said, “and thinking toward the future when, eventually, at some point, somebody new will be sitting in that seat, we are the ones who direct policy and he is the one that implements it… there is anger out there that should be directed more toward us.”
Kalob said, too, a room full of firefighters, upset about their contract, also made voting for the wage increase something she could not consider.
Michele Horne of Ward 2 echoed similar concerns to Schultz, saying there was significant “wage disparity” between the public and staff and the city manager. She also agreed with Kalob’s point that previous councils created this contract.
Sunflowers are my absolute FAVORITE flowers. I truly feel like they have magical uplifting abilities. Hence, why I’ve always kept fresh sunflowers in my house, brightening up my kitchen table or even my TV stand.
Obviously, it was a dream of mine to have my maternity photos taken in a sunflower field. They reflect sunshine and exude happiness.
Not to mention, one of my favorite quotes is about sunflowers! “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do.” Helen Keller
A beautiful reminder to keep an optimistic outlook on life and not dwell on the negative.
So, you can imagine the joy I felt when I learned that New Hampshire had its very own Sunflower Festival at Coppal House Farm in Lee!
About the Sunflower Festival:
During the summer, the farm transforms into a sea of golden blooms, giving visitors the chance to wander through thousands of sunflowers, snap photos, enjoy local food vendors, artisan crafts, listen to live music, and experience one of New Hampshire’s most beautiful summer traditions.
Other unique activities on the itinerary? Sip-n-snip! Guests can enjoy a cocktail or mocktail of their choice and cut their own fresh bouquet of flowers.
Or maybe you’re a yoga fan? You can join a 60-minute sweat session from Lee, New Hampshire yoga instructors right in the heart of the flower field.
And because the farm grows oilseed sunflowers for culinary oil (which they harvest in the fall months), the flowers only stay at their peak for a brief window, making the festival a limited-time experience, according to the festival organizers…
What makes this event even more special is the reason behind it. The festival started as a way to share the beauty of the sunflower fields, but it has grown into something much bigger. Organizers say the event has raised more than $90,000 for Make-A-Wish New Hampshire over the years and now shares a portion of its proceeds with several local nonprofit organizations serving the Seacoast community.
Anyone who knows me knows that paying it forward is something that’s incredibly important to me. It’s right up there with my love of sunflowers because both fill my cup in the best way. So, when I found out this festival celebrates my favorite flower and gives back to the community, I knew I had to share it.
Sunflower Festival Details:
This festival only runs from Saturday, July 25th until Sunday, August 2nd. You can get the full list of activities and more on the Coppal Farm website.
Daily Field Hours
10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
(last admission at 6PM because fields close at 6:30)
Weekend Tickets (prepurchased online – day before)
$12 per person ages 13 & older
$10 per person ages 5-12
$10 per person Seniors (65+) & Military
4 yrs & under are always free
Weekend Tickets (purchased day of – online or at farm):
$16 per person ages 13 & older
$14 per person ages 5-12
$14 per person Seniors (65+) & Military
4 yrs & under are always free
includes: access to sunflower fields, craft fair, food vending area, tented shade area, picnic area, farm animals, & live music
Weekday Tickets (prepurchased online – day before)
$8 per person ages 13 & older
$6 per person ages 5-12
$6 per person Seniors (65+) & Military
4 yrs & under are always free
Weekday Tickets (purchased day of – online or at farm)
$12 per person ages 13 & older
$10 per person ages 5-12
$10 per person Seniors (65+) & Military
4 yrs & under are always free
What tickets include:
Access to sunflower fields, food vending area, tented shade area, picnic area, and farm animals
READ MORE: A Classic Fairy Tale Comes To Life At Portsmouth’s Prescott Park This Summer
This festival might just leave you smiling long after you leave the fields!
What Flowers Thrive in New England
See what flowers thrive in New England weather: Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
Gallery Credit: Logan
14 of the Best New Hampshire Farms Offering Locally Grown Strawberries
14 of the Best New Hampshire Farms Offering PYO Strawberries
Gallery Credit: Sarah Sullivan
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