Story provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Public Information Office
Cellphones and illicit drugs have become a lethal combination in our state prisons. Both infiltrate prison walls at alarming rates, threatening the safety of correctional officers, inmates and the public.
Inmates use cellphones in part to bring in contraband such as illegal drugs. Such contraband led to three inmates at Jess Dunn Correctional Center overdosing on synthetic opioids Wednesday night. Security staff and medical first responders were able to save each one with an emergency anti-overdose drug, Narcan.
ODOC Director Joe M. Allbaugh traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to speak with the Federal Communications Commission about using available technology to block cellphone transmission.
“Cellphones in our prisons are used to coordinate drug introduction into every facility,” Allbaugh said Thursday. “Cellphones, as well as drugs, come into prisons through drops, visitation, and even staff members. We do what we can with the resources available, but more must be done before someone dies.”
The agency has been working with the FCC to allow cellphone signal blocking inside state prisons. ODOC has seized 5,914 cellphones to date in 2018, after confiscating 6,873 in all of 2017. 2018’s total is on track to approach 2016’s total of 9,766 cellphones seized, which was the most since 2011.
Wednesday’s series of incidents began just before 10 p.m. at the minimum-security prison for men in Taft. ODOC declines to identify the inmates due to federal confidentiality law requirements limiting release of private health information.
Security staff noticed the first inmate inside his housing unit blue in the face, with irregular heart beat and breathing – classic signs of a potential opioid overdose.
Staff immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and called for an ambulance.
They also gave him Narcan through an inhaler, a method known to immediately restore victims’ breathing after an opioid overdose.
Just a few minutes later, staff learned of another inmate unresponsive in another area of the prison, with the same symptoms as the first. They responded, and immediately gave the inmate Narcan via the inhaler.
As the first inmate was coming to, Muskogee County Emergency Medical Services personnel, already onsite due to the first overdose, gave the second inmate Narcan via an injectable. That inmate then began having seizures.
At around 10:15 p.m., a third inmate began having less severe overdose symptoms in the facility’s laundry room, and staff responded, immediately giving him Narcan. Medics also gave him a Narcan injection, and he became responsive a few minutes later.
All three inmates were transported to an area hospital for assessment and treatment. All were back at the facility Thursday morning.
While the fight against contraband continues, ODOC has been able to provide Narcan at all of its 24 facilities thanks to funding from the State Legislature this year.
“Our lawmakers deserve thanks for having the foresight to provide us with the funding for this lifesaving drug,” Allbaugh said. “Three people are alive today thanks to that drug and our staff’s training.”
Each state facility has trained medical personnel who can administer Narcan. ODOC is completing training of its security staff, including correctional officers, so they can properly administer the treatment, as well. Security staff at JDCC are trained in the drug.
To better fight contraband, the agency needs more funding for technology, such as cell sense towers, and other measures, such as better pay to hire more security staff – as well as the ability to block cellphone signals.
Additionally, the agency needs funding to provide inmates substance abuse treatment. Most inmates come to prison with some form of substance abuse problem. But the agency only has the funds to treat a fraction of them, and most discharge without any treatment.
“Most inmates come to prison with some form of substance abuse problem.”
A good majority of these inmates should not be in prison, rather at regional treatment centers. Our legislature may have gotten one thing right with Narcan, but they have a long way to go with Prison Reform. Of course the obvious statement is, it cost substantially less to treat addiction than to imprison the addicted.
My son has been a part of this archaic system. He is now finally after almost 20 year of addiction, treating himself through his own efforts. The continual issue with addiction is the addicted person most often does not seek, or cannot afford to seek treatment. How many addicts have a job. Very few.
Treatment centers and education starting at the elementary level are the only keys to rectify the problem in our state. Let’s get on it Legislature!