There is a drug problem in Cayuga County. 

"Just like every area I'm aware of, everyone is battling this same epidemic," said Detective Lt. Brian Schenck of the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office.

But this time, heroin isn't the culprit.

"We've seen an increase locally for the number arrests for sale of Suboxone. Prescription Suboxone on the streets," said Schenck.

Suboxone, a drug prescribed by doctors to treat opioid dependency like heroin addiction, is making its way to the streets. The drug is designed to satisfy cravings for recovering addicts, but according to some doctors, its withdrawal can be worse than heroin. For police, the solution for getting suboxone off of the streets may be more complicated than simply putting dealers behind bars. 

According to Dr. Adam Duckett, the Cayuga County coroner, finding a solution requires understanding the problem. 

"All you do is send them a check for $6,000 for whatever else, they'll send you a script for Suboxone without doing all the periodic testing associated with it," Duckett said.

Under the Drug Addiction Act of 2000, physicians are required to complete an eight-hour course to be able to prescribe buprenorphine, better known as Suboxone. 

"At one time, it was discussed as the medication that could not be abused, but we see people all of the time abusing it, selling it on the streets and trying to bring it into the jails," said Duckett.

Duckett serves as the medical director at the Cayuga County Jail. He says Suboxone has become popular contraband. 

"I don't think there's been a lot of research to find anything better. I mean, really, the big names you hear is Suboxone, methadone and Vivitrol, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses," said Duckett.

While the drug has saved lives, according to Duckett, he says helping opioid addicts is going to take much more time and research.

"We're just beginning over the past decade, so some real options, but they're not perfected yet. They're still first-generation-type drugs, and we want to go through and see where this evolves to," said Duckett.