Fentanyl Patch Return Program

NOTICE: Effective Friday, October 6, 2023, information about the Fentanyl Patch Return Program and corresponding documents will be removed from the Middlesex-London Health Unit’s website. Please download and save any documents or resources that are located on this website for your future use.

 

Many thanks to the dedicated individuals and community agencies who contributed to the development, promotion, and implementation of the Middlesex-London Fentanyl Patch Return Program.

Fentanyl patches have been linked to an increasing number of overdoses in Ontario. The Ontario Office of the Chief Coroner reports that from 2009-2013, 549 deaths have been associated with fentanyl in Ontario and that over 30 of those deaths have been in Middlesex-London.

The program is designed to reduce diversion by increasing fentanyl patch tracking by:

1. Physicians prescribing and pharmacies dispensing no more than a one-month supply of fentanyl patches at a time to patients with fentanyl prescriptions.
2. Ensuring that patients are provided education on the program and an information fact sheet that is also used as a patch return sheet.
3. Instructing each fentanyl patch patient to return their used patches, on the return sheet, to the pharmacy.
4. Documenting the date and the number of patches returned.
5. Dispensing one new patch for every used patch returned.

Please use the below documents for your reference and/or to provide to patients.

• Safeguarding our Communities Act (Patch for Patch Return Policy), 2015, S.O. 2015, c. 33
  The Patch for Patch Return Policy became law on October 1, 2016. The prescribing and dispensing of fentanyl patches must now follow these regulations.
• Fentanyl Patch Return Sheet (PDF 3.4MB)
  This sheet is to be given by pharmacies to patients for education and return of their used fentanyl patches.
• FAQ Physician and Pharmacist (PDF 444KB)
  This document is help answer questions you may have as physicians and pharmacists regarding the fentanyl patch return program.
• FAQ Patient Education (PDF 330KB)
  This document is help answer questions patients may have regarding the fentanyl patch return program.
• Responsibilities for Fentanyl Patch Return Program (PDF 525.1KB)
  This document is meant to provide some guidance around the responsibilities of physicians and pharmacies regarding the fentanyl patch return program.
• Prescription Example for Physicians (PDF 278KB)
  This document provides an example for physicians of how to write a fentanyl patch prescription using the program.
• Middlesex-London Addiction Services (PDF 41KB)
  This document lists addiction support services in Middlesex-London.
• Strathroy-Caradoc Addiction Services (PDF 72KB)
  This document lists addiction support services in Strathroy-Caradoc.
• Counter Sign for Fentanyl Patch Return Program (PDF 67.4KB)
  This document can be used by pharmacies to display their participation in the fentanyl patch return program to their clients.
• Template of Pharmacy Letter for Physicians (PDF 11KB)
  This document can be used by pharmacies if physician prescriptions for fentanyl come to the pharmacy without the fentanyl patch return program parameters. This letter can be used as a request to the physician to write prescriptions in this new format and participate in the program.