P.E.I. getting fentanyl patch exchange program

A program to stop fentanyl abuse and the deadly overdoses it can cause is coming to P.E.I.

A patch exchange program could be in place by the spring.

Fentanyl is an opioid, much more powerful than morphine or heroin.

It's prescribed in patch form to treat extreme pain, but if those patches aren't disposed of properly they can easily be used to make and sell the drug on the street.

There are only two knownfentanyl-related deaths on the Island, but the latest statistics are just to the end of 2014.

"Drug abuse trends tend to run from west to east, so although we don't have a significant fentanyl issue on the Island at the current time, we anticipate that that very well may occur," said MichelleWyand, the registrar of the P.E.I. College of Pharmacists.

"If we could curb or prevent the accidental overdose of one individual then we felt that was very important."

Patch exchange programs require patients to provide their old fentanyl patches in order to get new ones.

It's being used in Ontario and Wyand said it's having success stopping overdoses there.

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