One Windsor doctor is calling on all medical professionals to only dispense new fentanyl patches when the old ones are returned.
Local addictions Dr. Tony Hammer says despite much awareness in recent years, this is still an increasingly dangerous problem.
"Ensure that they're not being diverted or sold on the street and so other people can't get hold of them and use the fentanyl that's left in those patches once they've been used," says Hammer.
He classifies this as an epidemic on fentanyl abuse in the region. "I'm astonished they don't do this. I think a couple of pharmacists were worried they might lose some trade and I think some of the physicians don't realize how dangerous even the used patches are," he says.
Once a patch has been used for two or three days, Hammer says up to 40% of the drug is still inside.
A patch for patch program exists in some Ontario communities, including Chatham-Kent, but isn't mandatory .
Some pharmacists in the Windsor-area already participate in the program for some patients when it's requested by a physician.
Hammer estimates most of the patches being abused are from legitimate prescriptions.