Hoveton & Wroxham medical centre receive 1987 temazepam pills

The Hoveton and Wroxham Medical Centre has started its amnesty in an effort to raise awareness about the problems of wastage and medicine disposal.

It has seen someone hand in the two 1987-dated bottles containing temazepam, a class C controlled drug which is a benzodiazepine used to treat insomnia.

Alex Howe, patient participation group secretary, holding the pills (Image: Charlotte Watlow) It can also be taken as a relaxant before medical or dental treatments. 

In 1987 it was reported that temazepam was the most widely abused prescription drug in the UK.

The bottles of Temazepam (Image: Charlotte Watlow)secretary of the patient participation group at the medical centre, is assisting with the amnesty. 

Medicines are to be deposited in a bin at the practice for processing.

The labels and contents are removed before the packaging is displayed in a boat, symbolic of the centre's logo and its Broads location.

Medicines are being totalled up at the end of each day and destroyed as part of the month-long amnesty.

The centre receiving a donation (Image: Charlotte Watlow)

Charlotte Watlow, dispensary manager, said: "We are trying to raise awareness about the problems of wasted medicine. 

"It's about getting people to order only what they need and not stockpiling. 

"The cost to the NHS not including staffing, labelling and ordering is high. 

"In just three days we have had £5291.96 worth of medicine returned.

Staff at the practice with the amnesty boat (Image: Charlotte Watlow)"Some things can't be helped, it can be trial and error when people are trying different medications. 

The pills (Image: Charlotte Watlow)

"People just don't know what to do with them or how to dispose of them. 

"Don't throw them away, bring them back to the surgery/pharmacy because they can be damaging." 

According to a government website, £300 million is lost every year in the NHS due to medicine wastage.