Have you got an overflowing medicine cabinet at home?

Thursday, 13 March 2025 17:46

Pharmacies across Cornwall are calling on residents to drop off any unused, unneeded, or expired medicines throughout March as part of a medicines amnesty.

Community Pharmacy Cornwall warns that keeping old prescriptions ‘just in case’ increases the risk of taking the wrong medication. They also should never be shared with anyone else, as medicines are prescribed for the patient only.

Drew Creek, Chief Operating Officer of Community Pharmacy Cornwall, says:

"Many of us have unused or expired medications at home, and it’s vital that we dispose of them safely instead of holding onto them. During March, all of Cornwall’s pharmacies are hosting the ‘medicines amnesty’ where our teams will gladly accept all unneeded or expired medicines from you. Having unused medication at home poses a risk to others and increases the chance of taking the wrong or expired medicines. Let’s work together to protect our loved ones and the environment by bringing these in to the pharmacies this month."

The campaign, which is supported by Cornwall Council Public Health and NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, aims to make it easy for people to safely clear out their medicine cabinets.

There are several reasons to take part:

To keep everyone safe: Unused medicines pose a risk to vulnerable family members, including children and pets. Medicines should never be shared, as prescriptions are tailored to the individual.

To protect the environment: Throwing medicines in the bin or flushing them down the toilet can pollute water systems and harm wildlife.

To help keep antibiotics effective: Improper disposal of antibiotics can contribute to bacterial resistance, making infections harder to treat.

Dr. Eunan O’Neill, Interim Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, encourages residents to take part:

"It’s getting to that time of the year when we think about having a good spring clean so why not include clearing out your medicine cabinet at the same time? It’s easy to build up a stash of medication over time but taking old medicines, or ones that weren’t prescribed for you, can pose a health risk. Equally, it’s really important to dispose of them properly so why not take advantage of the amnesty this month and drop your old and unused medication into your local pharmacy?"

Dr. Chris Reid, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, adds:

"This is yet another reason to love your local pharmacy. I encourage everyone to support this great project. If you have any medicines that are out of date or no longer needed, now is the perfect time to take them to any pharmacy for safe and proper disposal."

PRESS PLAY to hear our interview with Drew Creek...