The Department of Justice is shedding little light on what measures it is taking to improve security at the North Slave Correctional Complex after an inmate used fentanyl at the jail late last year.The Nov. 29 incident came less than a week after a string of eight fentanyl-related overdoses happened in Yellowknife within 48 hours, prompting an urgent public health warning in which officials described some of the overdoses as SA国际影视传媒渂ig near misses.SA国际影视传媒�
At the time of the incident, Blair VanMetre, assistant director of facility operations, confirmed in an e-mail statement that the inmate took fentanyl but did not overdose.
Department spokesperson Sue Glowach also said the department was investigating and were informed about the incident.
According to spokesperson Marie York-Condon, the Yellowknife division has no information on file about a fentanyl incident at the jail last Nov. 29.
Last week, Yellowknifer asked what the department is doing as a result of the fentanyl incident to improve security at the jail and prevent contraband from entering the facility.
SA国际影视传媒淲e are not releasing any information that could jeopardize the safety of the inmates, and it is counter-productive to publicize search methods for contraband,SA国际影视传媒� stated department spokesperson Sue Glowach in an e-mail statement.
No report was produced from the investigation, according to Glowach, but SA国际影视传媒渧ery thoroughSA国际影视传媒� daily reports are kept at the jail. She said the department could not provide a copy of these reports.
When Yellowknifer initially asked for an update, the justice department appeared confused about the series of events, providing conflicting information and declining an interview request with other department staff.
SA国际影视传媒淭he incident you are referring to was never confirmed as 'fentanyl' but an opioid incident,SA国际影视传媒� Glowach stated on April 7. SA国际影视传媒淭here was no formal report made and no confirmation of fentanyl.SA国际影视传媒�
Glowach later agreed the incident was confirmed to be fentanyl-related after being shown an e-mail confirmation she provided to Yellowknifer last year.
She then explained the issue was that no drug was found during a search of the inmateSA国际影视传媒檚 cell at the time and SA国际影视传媒渢he inmate responded to the naloxone therapy, which typically is used for fentanyl.SA国际影视传媒�
Naloxone is a medication used to halt the effects of an opioid overdose.
According to VanMetreSA国际影视传媒檚 statement last year, medical staff at NSCC are SA国际影视传媒渁ble to address fentanyl incidents and administer naloxone if there is an overdose.SA国际影视传媒�
Yellowknifer sought clarification this month about whether the use of naloxone meant the inmate overdosed in November.
She then stated in an e-mail April 20 that she had misspoken, and that naloxone was not administered and the person did not overdose.
Yellowknifer requested an interview with staff from NSCC or corrections, but was denied.
SA国际影视传媒淭here is nothing further to say on this subject,SA国际影视传媒� Glowach said.
