NY Times on Suboxone Abuse in Prison

The NY Times this morning had an interesting article on a problem of which I was completely unaware: the abuse of Suboxone in prisons. According to the report:
“Innovative smugglers have turned crushed Suboxone pills into a paste and spread it under stamps or over children’s artwork, including pages from a princess coloring book found in a New Jersey jail.”
Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone combined in a 4:1 ratio) have recently become available as orange strips — similar to breath strips — that dissolve under the tongue.  Buprenorphine, a mixed opioid agonist-antagonist, has similar effect to those of morphine or heroin but is less potent and longer-lasting.  It has long been used in Europe as an alternative to methadone for drug detox.  The idea of com…