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NYSCOPBA Urges Immediate Action on Inmate Drug Overdoses and Staff Illnesses

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The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association is calling on the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to take immediate action to address the recent rash of incidents of staff becoming ill after coming into contact with inmates who have allegedly overdosed on drugs, as well as the amount of contraband that are still getting into the hands of inmates. According to NYSCOPBA, those drugs are causing multiple overdoses that require Narcan to be administered to reverse the lethal effects of the drugs and causing officers and medical staff to become sick.

In a news release, NYSCOPBA listed incidents of inmate overdoses and staff developing significant health symptoms after having contact with the inmates:

Upstate Correctional Facility had over two dozen officers and nurses who developed various symptoms that required Narcan to be administered at the facility with all staff eventually being transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

On Wednesday, January 22, an intoxicated inmate was brought into the infirmary after being involved in a fight with another inmate. Due to his medical condition, multiple doses of Narcan were administered until the inmate became responsive. After the Narcan was administered, the inmate remained combative with officers and body holds were used to contain the inmate until he became compliant. He was transported to Alice Hyde Medical Center for further evaluation.

After the incident was over, 11 officers, 8 registered nurses and 1 civilian began experiencing symptoms that included dizziness, vomiting , high blood pressure and fainting. They were all transported to Alice Hyde Medical Center for treatment. Two of the registered nurses were administered Narcan to combat their symptoms. All staff were treated and released from the hospital.

Franklin County and NYSP HAZMAT teams responded to the facility as a result of the exposure. They could not determine the substance that caused the symptoms to staff.

On Saturday, January 25, three officers and two registered nurses were transported to a local hospital after responding to a medical emergency in the infirmary for an inmate who was unresponsive. The three officers and two nurses immediately began experiencing symptoms of light headiness, and dizziness after treating the inmate. One officer and a nurse needed to be administered Narcan after they became unresponsive. After being treated at the hospital, all staff were released.

State Police HAZMAT Team responded to the facility and could not determine what substance caused the medical emergency.

On Saturday, January 25, an officer began experiencing slurred speech, shaking, and sweating profusely after conducting a pat frisk of an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility. He was administered Narcan by a nurse at the facility and transported to Wynn Hospital. After the incident, a sergeant and officer conducted a search of the inmate’s cube for contraband. While conducting the search, both began to experience tingling in their faces. Their symptoms progressed to the point that both began losing composure and began laughing uncontrollably. The sergeant and officer were transported to Rome Hospital for further evaluation.

Utica Fire Department HAZAMAT Team responded to the facility, and tested the air quality and it was negative for any substance.

On Monday, January 27, four officers were injured and exposed to an unknown substance at Lakeview Correctional Facility after a combative inmate attacked them as they entered his cell when he covered the cell door window and refused to respond to orders. The officers were injured when they opened his cell door, and he charged at them. They grabbed him in a body hold and forced him to the floor where he remained combative. On the floor, the inmate bit one officer’s finger, breaking the skin. Once officers were able to get handcuffs on the inmate, he became compliant and was escorted to a holding cell to be evaluated. Besides the injuries the four officers sustained in the attack, they also developed shortness of breath, tightness in their chests, elevated blood pressure and fatigue. They were transported to Westfield Hospital and treated and released and did not return to duty.

“The concern with the alarming number of incidents occurring coupled with the fact that hazmat teams and law enforcement officials have been unable to identify the substances responsible for these exposures underscores the need for improved drug detection methods within the facilities and enhanced safety protocols,” said Chris Summers, NYSCOPBA President. Two inmates needed to receive multiple doses to Narcan, and an AED was utilized and CPR was performed to revive both men after apparent drug overdoses at Marcy Correctional Facility this week. It is clear, with the number of incidents of unresponsive inmates in prisons across the state, that dangerous drugs like synthetic marijuana (K2) and Fentanyl are still getting into the prisons at an alarming rate. Contraband seized in 2024 numbered 4,739, a 55 percent increase from 2022, despite having a secure vendor program that was supposed to reduce drugs and weapons from getting into the facility. That makes it extremely dangerous for staff who must interact with inmates daily and immediately respond to medical emergencies with no knowledge of the type of drugs they are encountering.”

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