In 2012, the Mason Police Department hosted its first Drug Take Back Day, a biannual initiative focused on eliminating unnecessary opioids and prescription drugs from local households and preventing them from getting in town water.
According to officer John Dube, the department collects an average of 100 pounds of opioids and prescription drugs every year from Temple, Mason, Greenville and New Ipswich residents.
Nearly 1,000 pounds of drugs collected later, the department recently hosted its latest Drug Take Back Day, as community members stopped by the department on Darling Hill Road to drop off their unwanted prescription drugs and opioids.
Local residents were encouraged to dispose of their drugs in any amount, excluding syringes, liquids, aerosols and synthetic opioids like fentanyl and heroin, with no questions asked. Neighboring towns like Peterborough and Brookline also hosted their own collections at their police departments.
Dube said the idea to host a biannual Drug Take Back Day began with sanitary concerns from the Mason Police Department and the Conservation Commission 10 years ago.
“We don’t want drugs getting in our town water,” said Dube. “But it’s becoming more important to deal with in New Hampshire.”
According to Dube, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge in substance abuse-related issues in the state, and the number of drugs collected each year has also increased.
“First year, we maybe had half a box,” said Dube. “We’ve definitely been taking a lot more.”
After four hours of collecting, the dozens of pounds of prescription drugs and opioids were delivered to the Peterborough Police Department, for representatives of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration to collect the bins and dispose of the drugs by incinerating them.
The Mason Police Department will host its next Drug Take Back day in April 2023.