A Sheriff Outside Texas Investigates Fentanyl Exposures at the County Jail

A sheriff in a county outside Texas is putting the spotlight on fentanyl overdoses in jails. He has said he will investigate fentanyl exposure because of repeated incidents involving the potent, deadly drug. The good news in this story is that Narcan was made available to multiple victims of fentanyl exposure at the jail, and they survived.

During one week this month, 13 inmates and 2 staff members were exposed to fentanyl. Prior to that, on March 8, two surviving inmates had medical emergencies, and Narcan was administered.

Having Narcan on hand doesn’t just protect inmates. A deputy was exposed to fentanyl and began to show signs of an overdose. He was given proper medical attention at a nearby hospital, and he is doing well.

On March 9, more medical emergencies occurred that were possibly fentanyl-related. The scene described is a common occurrence and highlights the fact that fentanyl is a danger to first responders and, incidentally, innocent bystanders trying to help with an emergency.

• An inmate started exhibiting erratic behavior. He was provided with Narcan and transported to a nearby hospital. Deputies then discovered another inmate at the jail who was unresponsive and not breathing. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and Narcan were both administered, which restored the inmate’s breathing and consciousness. Two members of the medical staff who assisted with the emergencies at the jail began to have symptoms of exposure to fentanyl, and they were also taken to the hospital.

Learn more in Part 1 and this continuing series.

Helping Texas jail detainees and their families with resources is one of the purposes of this website. There is no intention of suggesting that people or organizations have been involved in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor