.
Murphy – In the last month, quick thinking by staff members kept two female inmates from overdosing on narcotics at the Cherokee County Detention Center.
The latest incident occurred on Oct. 28, according to a release from Capt. Octavio Aguero. At 2:52 p.m., a Murphy police officer transported a female arrestee to the detention center. The inmate was searched, scanned and placed in an observation cell due to her behavior and drug-related charges.
About 3:30 p.m., the inmate began exhibiting signs consistent with an overdose. She said she had ingested drugs prior to being arrested to avoid additional charges.
Detention and medical staff immediately began administering doses of Narcan, also known as Naloxone – which is FDA approved for countering effects of opiate overdoses – and Emergency Medical Services was mobilized. After 15 4 mg doses of Narcan, she was stabilized and taken to Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital in Peachtree, where she was successfully treated for the overdose and was released the morning of Oct. 29. She remains in the custody of the detention center.
“While this incident could have evolved into a fatality, the quick action of detention and medical staff resulted instead in a life saved,” Aguero said. “We are proud of the men and women who serve this community through their commitment to the care, custody and control of all arrestees who enter the detention center.”
The previous incident took place at 6:06 p.m. Oct. 11. EMS was dispatched to the detention center in reference to a female inmate suffering from a potential fentanyl overdose, according to a release.
Prior to their arrival, Narcan was administered to the female inmate multiple times, as well as her receiving chest compressions. Due to the quick actions of detention staff, as well as the medical staff already on site, the female regained consciousness and was taken to Erlanger, where she was discharged later that night.
The female who brought in the fentanyl had turned herself in for a three-day “quick dip” (a period of probation). As with all inmates booked into the detention center, they have to enter a body scanner during the booking process.
Depending on how the contraband is concealed on a person, sometimes it’s difficult to see, especially on a female. The remaining evidence had been flushed by the female who brought it in prior to this incident.
Following procedure, the jail was placed on lockdown. All females housed with the female in question were separated and rescanned. The female pod was then searched by the staff, deputies and a K-9 unit.