Medicines amnesty starts in Leicestershire

The amnesty campaign runs throughout March 2025.

Members of the public are being asked to return unused and unwanted medicines to pharmacies in the first medicines amnesty for Leicestershire.

Community pharmacies will ensure the medicines are disposed of safely.

Mat Williams is the suicide prevention lead for Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. He said: “Nationally 23% of all suicides are completed by overdoses. It is the second most common method of a person ending their life”.

“In 2023 there were 28 suicides in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland due to overdoses, and many other people will have caused themselves significant harm through overdoses which did not prove to be fatal.

“There are also risks of accidental overdoses for children, the confused, or people who are impulsive or temporarily distressed.

“The risks of these events occurring is greatly reduced if no-one has a stockpile of medicines at home.”

Other reasons for returning unused medicines include they are past the use-by date and so could be ineffective.

Families, friends and carers are being asked to help patients return medicines where appropriate. 

The amnesty campaign runs throughout March 2025.