Sixty-two-year-old Thomas Ervin Gregory was booked into Taylor County Jail and died the same day, which was February 22, 2023. In that brief time, he was placed in a restraint chair before being moved into a detox cell. The custodial death report (CDR) filed about his death in the Abilene, Texas, jail, also says that pepper spray was deployed on him due to uncooperative, resistive behavior.

Drug Withdrawal in a County Jail

A disproportionate number of inmates in county and municipal jails in Texas have substance abuse problems. For an addict, going through withdrawal is the natural result of being jailed. A journalist recently mentioned that in the US, only five jails induct opioid-addicted inmates into medication-assisted treatment.

So, inmates are left with the pain and humiliation of withdrawal. One woman jailed in a county Texas jail shared her experience of withdrawal from heroin. She was first in a booking area for three days with 15 to 20 other women. Bunk beds were sparse, and she wasn’t the only one throwing up, for withdrawal symptoms began after about 24 hours.

During the booking process, the woman was asked if she was in withdrawal, and she answered yes. Instead of receiving medication, she was placed in a detoxification cell. Approximately 25 inmates were there along with her. Some were in withdrawal from substance abuse, as she was, but others were exhibiting symptoms of acute mental illness.

Most memorable was the smell of vomit, diarrhea, and blood that overtook the detox cell. The least sick among them used the cleaning supplies that were provided.

Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of this ongoing series.

This post is among the resources on this site intended as a potential benefit to inmates in Texas county and city jails. Making inferences that organizations or individuals have been involved in wrongdoing is never intended.

–Guest Contributor