This is what goes on with pills pilfered from medicine cabinets anywhere, including Roanoke Rapids where they have been documented, said Captain Jay Burch of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.

Burch and Major Bruce Temple were at HealthLink today in Becker Village Mall participating in Operation Medicine Drop, a statewide initiative to rid medicine chests and homes of unused drugs and keep them from being used in Skittle parties or just ingested by individuals.

Several people took advantage of the day to drop off medicine, the first one coming in a plastic quart container filled with everything from Tylenol to pills that were unknown.

Temple said around 10 people showed up, bringing a total of some 3,500 pills. “The quantity of pills was enormous.”

Diane Taylor of Emporia, Virginia, heard of the event through her sister and rrspin.com’s morning newscast on First Media Radio. “My husband had cancer and I didn’t know where to get rid of them,” she said of the bag full of pills she brought to HealthLink.

“The up and coming problem is pills,” Burch said. “These Skittle parties, people will raid medicine cabinets, mix them up and pick colors. They do it for something to do but don’t think about the danger of doing all that medicine. It’s a problem everywhere.”

The medicine collected will be secured like evidence would and then destroyed by incineration, said Temple.

For those who didn’t take advantage of the day to get rid of old or unused medicine, they may call their local law enforcement agency to find out the best way to get rid of them.

Temple was appreciative of the support from HealthLink. “We really appreciate them helping us. It’s good to get that support.”