Pharmacist-Led Study Helps Detect Fake Fentanyl Patches: A Breakthrough in Community Safety
The abuse and diversion of transdermal fentanyl patches pose significant health risks, with serious complications including overdoses and fatalities. To combat this crisis, a pharmacist-led study in Ontario successfully implemented a rapid screening method to detect counterfeit fentanyl patches, ensuring better compliance with the Safeguarding Our Communities Act and improving patient safety.
The Need for a Screening Test in Pharmacies
Fentanyl patches contain potent opioid medication, and even after 72 hours of use, up to 84% of fentanyl remains in the patch. Individuals engaging in illicit drug use have devised methods to extract residual fentanyl, including chewing, smoking, and intravenous injection. Counterfeit patches have entered the illegal market, visually mimicking real patches, making it nearly impossible for pharmacists to detect fake returns under the Patch-for-Patch (P4P) Return Policy.
Before this study, there was no rapid screening test available for pharmacists to verify authenticity, creating an opportunity for drug diversion and abuse. This study introduces a simple, rapid, and cost-effective method to differentiate authentic vs. counterfeit fentanyl patches.
How the Rapid Screening Method Works
Participating community pharmacies in 10 Ontario locations tested a novel fentanyl detection method using two fentanyl drug test kits:
- Fentanyl Drug Test Kit (TN Scientific, USA) – Used in Golden Lake.
- FaStep Fentanyl Test Strips (Trimedic, Canada) – Used in all other locations.
Step-by-Step Testing Process
- Visual Inspection – Pharmacists inspected all returned fentanyl patches.
- Random Patch Selection – A single patch was selected from the batch.
- Immersion in Distilled Water – The patch was placed in 5ml of distilled water and shaken for 2 minutes.
- Testing with Fentanyl Strips – A test strip was dipped into the solution for 20 seconds and read within 3 minutes.
- Result Interpretation:
- One line (Control Zone only) – Authentic fentanyl patch detected.
- Two lines (Control + Test Zones) – Counterfeit patch detected.
- Test Zone Line Only – Retest required; if repeated, the batch was flagged for law enforcement.
Key Findings from the Study
- A total of 1,339 fentanyl patches were screened across 10 Ontario pharmacies.
- 73.1% were authentic, while 26.9% were counterfeit.
- All counterfeit patches were from the Teva brand, while Sandoz patches were consistently authentic.
- All suspected counterfeit patches were handed over to law enforcement for further investigation.
- High sensitivity was observed, detecting fentanyl even at 1:640 dilution (equivalent to 3.2L of water).
The Impact on Community Safety
This groundbreaking pharmacist-led study demonstrates that rapid screening for fentanyl patches can be easily implemented in community pharmacies, leading to:
- Reduced drug diversion and abuse.
- Increased safety for patients and pharmacists.
- Enhanced enforcement of the P4P program.
- Encouragement for regulatory authorities to revise guidelines and empower pharmacists with more authority to act on suspected counterfeit cases.
Call to Action: Empowering Pharmacies Nationwide
This study highlights the urgent need for widespread implementation of rapid fentanyl patch screening in pharmacies across Ontario and Canada. Regulatory authorities should update the P4P policy guidelines to include mandatory testing and provide pharmacists with the necessary tools to prevent drug diversion.
At Pill4me Pharmacy, we prioritize patient safety and support initiatives that combat opioid abuse. If you have any questions about fentanyl safety, prescription monitoring, or opioid misuse prevention, contact our team today.
Together, we can safeguard our communities.