Detention center reports 2 fentanyl overdoses

LARAMIE (WNE) — Two inmates at the Albany County Detention Center were hospitalized last week after overdosing on fentanyl, said Albany County Sheriff Aaron Appelhans. 
A third inmate was suspected of smuggling the drug into the detention center in a body cavity and then sharing it with others. 
The inmate was charged and is awaiting a trial for the offense. 
The two inmates who overdosed have recovered, Appelhans said, adding the department is responding to how the drugs got into the jail. 
“It’s unfortunate, and we’re doing everything that we can at the center to adjust our search processes and practices to limit introduction of controlled substances within our detention center,” he said of the incident. 
He explained that the presence of fentanyl is a relatively new issue at the local detention center. 
“Substance abuse is still an issue amongst a lot of people who come into the (detention center),” Appelhans said. “We do everything we can to help the inmates out, but some people are just so hooked on a drug that they’re willing to break the law and put other people’s lives in danger just so they can have their drug.”
 
This story was published on June 16, 2022.