2015 deaths wake-up call for jails on opioid issues

Province ‘took action’ in response, with protocols, training: official

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Justice says 2015 was a “watershed year” for dealing with opioids and related issues in correctional facilities.

Those comments came on the heels of an inquest into the death of Breanna Kannick, who was suffering from opioid withdrawals when she died at Regina’s White Birch Correctional Unit in August 2015.

“The onset of significant opioid withdrawal within the facilities was really that 2015 mark,” said Drew Wilby, spokesman with the Ministry of Justice.

Shauna Wolf, 27, was found dead in her single-bunk cell at the Pine Grove Correctional Centre in Prince Albert in December of that year. A 2017 coroner’s inquest into her death was told she likely died from an opioid withdrawal. She had been transferred from a medical cell into segregation prior to her death, because she had smuggled heroin into the facility.

The inquest into Kannick’s death heard last week how, prior to her death, she had been experiencing withdrawal related to an opioid addiction.

At the time of those deaths, there was no protocol in place for dealing with such issues and the quality of medical attention she received when she arrived at the facility has been called into question.

A 17-year-old boy also died that year. After the inquest into his death, a jury recommended staff at the Saskatoon youth facility where he died — Kilburn Hall — receive education about medical emergencies that includes drug withdrawal and overdoses.

Wilby says those three events combined to create a “watershed year” for corrections officials in the province.

“We started to see these things coming on, and we took action out of that,” he said.

Saskatchewan correctional facilities now have posters up indicating the signs and symptoms of overdoses and withdrawals. Some facilities have similar information related to crystal meth.

“Those are significant drugs that we’re dealing with,” said Wilby.

The deadly opioid fentanyl has been found within all the province’s adult correctional centres.

Correctional officers and offender workers are now trained on how to administer a nasal spray form of naloxone, a medication used for emergency treatments of opioid overdoses.

Nurses and deputy sheriffs transporting inmates have also received additional opioid-related training.

Wilby called the measures put in place since 2015, “a robust framework to deal with this, because it’s a reality for us.”

“In 2015, we unfortunately have to learn the lessons of the past and that’s what we’ve done,” he said. “We’re looking to move forward to the future.”

Correctional workers are also encouraged to call 911 if they deem a medical emergency is taking place.

“We do have protocols, we do have practices in facilities, but at the fundamental root is if someone deems an emergency to be going on or happening, call 911 and let’s make sure we have the appropriate medical team there to deal with the issue,” he said.