Oshawa - - Lakeridge Health hosted a collaborative group of health officials from across the Region, pharmacists, physicians and law enforcement officials, to work through the details to develop a Fentanyl Patch for Patch program.
“Fentanyl is an extremely powerful pain medication,” explained Dr. Robert Kyle, Medical Officer of Health for the Durham Region Health Department. “Prescriptions for Fentanyl are usually made for people fighting some forms of cancer and for some people in palliative care,” he explained.
“As the supply of OxyContin and other potent opioids has been cut off on the street, Fentanyl has gained in popularity,” said Deputy Chief Scott Burns from Durham Regional Police Service. “Addiction spurs crime in our community because people will break into homes, businesses and pharmacies to get money to supply their addiction,” he added.
“In the past year the number of overdose cases we see in our Emergency Department monthly has increased by 50%,” said Kevin Empey, Lakeridge Health President and CEO. “We have been treating people with addictions, but it is clear that is not enough to tackle this challenge.”
A Patch for Patch model would mean that anyone renewing a prescription would need to return used patches to their pharmacy before any new ones are dispensed. This helps ensure safe disposal and responsible usage.
Patch for Patch is a real partnership - from the physicians prescribing to the pharmacist dispensing to the patient ensuring that leftover patches are returned.
“We know that the only way to tackle challenges like this is if we all work together, and that’s exactly what today all is about,” Mr. Empey said.
When implemented in early 2015, Durham Region would be the fourth Patch for Patch program in Ontario. It has been successfully implemented in North Bay, Peterborough and Lindsay.
