Community partners have seen positive results stem from a Patch 4 Patch fentanyl exchange program recently launched in Sarnia-Lambton. The program ensures properly used fentanyl patches are brought in whole to physicians, eliminating the option to sell or misuse the medication resulting in possible overdoses or death. Sarnia Police Services Detective Constable Mike Howell says since the program inception in October, the street price of patches has drastically shot up due to decreased supply. "The price originally was $400 per 100 microgram patch at a tie value," says Howell. "It's now gone up to $550 to $600 for the same patch. We're also seeing that the other denominations of patches have gone up in proportion to that one as well."
"So its had an impact at all levels of the fentanyl drug trade." A provincial bill, outlining the Patch 4 Patch program first developed in North Bay, completed its final reading in Queen's Park on December 10th to make it law in Ontario. Sarnia-Lambton saw five overdose deaths in 2013, a death rate 4.5 times the Ontario average.
