SPOKANE, Wash. — Two inmates died from suspected fentanyl overdoses at the Spokane County Jail, part of a four-person overdose incident that forced the facility into lockdown.
“It’s hugely emotional to our staff and they put their heart and soul into saving lives,” said Chief Don Hooper, chief of detention services for Spokane County.
While the gravity of this incident was unusual, addiction making its way through the jail’s walls is not uncommon.
“The withdrawals from fentanyl are just a game changer compared to other drugs that we’ve dealt with in the past,” Hooper said.
The medical emergencies forced the jail into red light status, meaning no new inmates could be booked for several hours.
“That has a significant impact on my people. It has a significant impact on the community, because people don’t just stop committing crimes,” said Sheriff John Nowels.
This incident comes just a day before the Spokane County commissioners approved a new medical provider. Mediko, founded by Dr. Kaveh Ofogh, will begin providing medical services at the jail in February.
“When they are here, they should be treated so they don’t have that craving,” said Dr. Ofogh.
The new medical provider plans to increase the use of medication for opioid use disorder, which Ofogh says has proven beneficial in reducing drug-seeking behavior.
“Because the inmate patients doesn’t have that a strong craving for these drugs, to ask somebody to smuggle drug for them into the jail or to attempt to bring it with themselves to the jail,” Ofogh said.
Mediko also plans to increase the number of staff working at the jail by 10 people. For Chief Hooper, these changes represent progress in addressing the facility’s challenges.
“More access to medical care is only a is only a good thing,” Hooper said.
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