Fentanyl found in correctional centre incident, 5 hospitalized

The union that represents Alberta correctional officers says fentanyl was found in the system of one of the guards rushed to hospital Saturday after exposure to an unknown substance.

The incident at the Calgary Correctional Centre sent an inmate, two correctional officers and two nurses to hospital.

“I can confirm that fentanyl and arsenic were found in the system of the officer,” said Scott Conrad, the chair of AUPE Local 003.

Conrad said the union is “working tirelessly” to equip its officers in all departments “with the tools that they require to do their job and keep one another safe.”

He added that while opioid antidote naloxone and the nasal spray form Narcan are both being used already in facilities, the union is seeking greater access to that medication for correctional officers.

A spokesperson for Alberta Justice and Solicitor General said in a statement that naloxone is available in all centres to ensure critical emergency response to suspected overdoses and accidental exposure.

“If an incident occurs, an internal review is conducted to learn what could be done differently, if anything, to prevent a repeat occurrence and to ensure policies and procedures were followed,” the statement reads.

“If a staff member is injured or reports injury as a result of an incident, they are attended to by medical professionals and offered mental health supports.”

There are “several measures in place” to prevent drugs from entering provincial correctional facilities, the ministry said, including the use of drug dogs, searches, intelligence gathering by staff and regular rounds and counts conducted by correctional staff.