Custody Officers in the Central California women’s facility escorted top medical professionals down the wings of the incarcerated population’s housing units to hand out boxes of Narcan — Naloxone HCI Nasal Spray — containing four milligrams of emergency treatment of overdose designed to rapidly reverse the effects of a life-threatening opioid emergency. Lack of enthusiasm went viral as the women were placed on institutional lock down while staff distributed the nasal spray.
On Friday, June 21, 2024, many CCWF residents refused to accept boxes of Narcan containing 2-single-dose shots of nasal spray. Alexus Armstrong, 25, from Kern County said her cellmate iterated, “the staff wants us to do their job.” “They offered it to me when I went out to court, and I was like, ‘what the fuck!’ At first, I did think it was an unfair responsibility to place on us. What if someone dies?” Alexus said. Would it be Alexus’ fault? “But because medical takes an hour to get to you, we might need it.” Alexus sarcastically added.
Lori Whipple, mom, artist, PIA Dental worker pointed to an increase in fentanyl overdoses in CCWF. “The prison is flooded with Meth, Suboxone (CCWF-issued), heroin, and they’re giving Narcan to people who parole,” like a parting gift, Lori said. The addiction is pervasive. The CCWF Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program sponsors an Offender Mentor Certificate Program where the incarcerated facilitators assist with the facilitation of incarcerated women who have been approved to legally medicate themselves on Suboxone. (Orange is the New Crack: The Suboxone Epidemic in the Central California Women’s Facility — November 10, 2023, EPIC) “They’re putting people on Suboxone, which alters the mind. What happens when you can’t get Suboxone? They’ll go to heroin and that will kill them.” Lori said.
CCWF Warden, Anissa De La Cruz seems to be preparing for the worse, as she put out institutional messages on the GTL tablet system advising the population to seek help if struggling with addiction (while CCWF induced), and warned the population Narcan (“Narcane” or “Narcandy” derived from a Narcotics, cocaine, candy blend) would be issued to all incarcerated women.
This mass messaging was on the heels of a beloved resident, Deijah Curtis, who pulled her eyeballs out of their sockets. Amie Ichikawa, Director of WomanIIWoman, confirmed what the population heard about, “bullying so bad you want to pull your eyes out,” — Giovanna Zepeda. Juxtaposed drug use, “The poor woman was still getting adjusted to CCWF, and I’m told there was some really bad bullying going on and she was displaying signs of a psychotic breakdown.” Amie said on a 15-minute GTL phone call after she made several inquiries to CCWF regarding Curtis’ condition.
Several staff members and incarcerated individuals echoed this same account of the situation. They all were also told the victim was in bed, one eyeball was on the floor in a pool of blood, and the other was in bed with her. One guard confirmed she was on a “101” (suicide watch). Giovanna and Marisa Moreno were visibly shaken when a staff member shared this information. Their comments turned dark and spiritual, going to places beyond the reach of Narcan.
“Maybe she saw demons,” Marisa said. “The eyes are the windows to the soul,” said Giovanna. The women discussed something dark going on as it pertained to eyes. Marisa opened a National Geographic magazine they looked through a day before, pointing out the eyes of animals whited out, suggesting a spiritual connection. “This person who whited the eyes out must have been going through something, maybe the same thing,” Marisa theorized. “Then we hear about this eyeball story,” Giovanna added. Marisa’s mom is a nurse at Mule Creek’s men’s institution and she warned her daughter not to smoke any marijuana, or do any drugs at CCWF as she has seen an uptick in overdoses on marijuana laced with “spice,” cleaning solutions, and other chemicals to “stretch the product.” Since the issuance of Narcandy, people have witnessed the
addicted “getting high off the Narcan,” said Marisa. Marisa and her mom are convinced, “it’s the guards bringing in the drugs,” a sentiment another CCWF resident agrees with Genelle, early 40’s, mom, and Honor Dorm resident said the guards are definitely bringing in the drugs, “probably to their little girlfriends, and you know it goes from there.” Genelle was confronted with one of her Developmentally Disabled (DDP) roommates overdosing “three times.” Surprised to hear DDPs have moved from exclusively being housed in D-Wing, to her wing, I asked, “you moved to D-Wing?” Eyes rolling, “no they moved DDPs all over the unit. You have no choice if you don’t want to live with people with serious mental health issues. My roommate looks forward to dying of the overdose, she brags she has died so many times. It will take four people’s Narcan to bring her back, and I didn’t even take the Narcan so she will have to have four other people save her.” Genelle said.
Genelle described her cellmate’s pursuit of death by overdose as a “Nirvana” type high. “Narcan can’t stop that,” she said. Lori Whipple said something similar when she recounted a time she felt recovery was impossible for a friend who became complacent, dying several times to overdose.
Perhaps the opioid crisis is beyond the reach of an inmate administered Narcandy, but CCWF seems to think the nasal spray that is now also used to get high on, is capable of crashing an overdoses’ party. After all, the Narcan label boasts to “revive someone during an overdose from any prescription pain medications or street drugs such as heroin — this medicine can save a life.” The devil is definitely in the details as Narcandy selfishly asks untrained incarcerated individuals to “check if you suspect an overdose: the person will not wake up or is very sleepy or not breathing well.”
The incarcerated woman is then asked to “yell ‘wake up!’ shake the person gently. If the person is not awake, go to Step 2.”
Ironically, incarcerated women can’t call 911 or summon a paramedic, but Narcan asks, “call 911 immediately after giving the 1st dose… and to stay until the ambulance arrives… you may need to give all the doses in the pack.” I spoke to women who are relieved that there is wiggle room in the new practice that doesn’t force them to try saving lives or hold them accountable for wrongful death should they fail to preserve another woman’s life.
Retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Brown laughed at how cavalier CCWF is normalizing passing out a drug they didn’t teach us how to use. “Did they give you all Narcan training?” he asked. “We are expected to read the box and play paramedic,” I responded. According to Prison Legal News — “Washington DOC Outfits Guards With Narcan — April 2024: “On August 3, 2023, the Washington State Department of Corrections completed implementation of a new policy permitting staffers to carry Naloxone while on duty. But allowing guards to carry the life-saving-drug — doesn’t mean that many will do so.
Some guards expressed moral objections, citing the debunked belief that giving prisoners Naloxone, enables their habits… Though Narcan kits have been in DOC prisons since 2018, they were kept in secure locations inaccessible to most staffers… [many guards reported] they didn’t know where kits were located. Others expressed reluctance to use them; despite mandatory training…
Ultimately, DOC authorized employees and contract staff to carry personal Narcan supplies while on duty. “Training on using Narcan was not given to the CCWF population. Elsewhere, in the men’s institution a volunteer at San Quentin reported a committee of incarcerated men called The People in Blue handed out backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils to 2,000 residents: while medical staff showed up to maximize the opportunity to get the men to accept the Narcandy — a risky endeavor providing a substance to men with propensity to be at odds with each other, Narcan goes on: “when using this product some people may experience symptoms when they wake up, such as shaking, sweating, nausea, or feeling angry. This is to be expected.”
Despite my first report on the CCWF Suboxone epidemic (Orange is the New Crack), and despite empty comments CDCR made in response to Orange is the New Crack, Governor Newsom has not stepped in to disband this legalized drug trade that’s mentally, physically, and emotionally crippling broken women.
A woman I recently met, Sylvia, 36, from Santa Clara County was on A-Yard March 19th – June 19th, 2024. “There’s hella people on Suboxone. Hella people can’t go outside to the yard because it’s too hot. When you’re on Suboxone you’re not supposed to go out in the heat.” Sylvia opined, “I’d say seventy five percent of the women are on Suboxone,” on A-Yard. During the day the CO in the housing unit “makes an announcement of all the women who can’t go outside. I was like ‘damn! Is he ever going to stop with the names?” It’s sad the prison has to go that far to get them hooked. Some of those women have never been on drugs and they’re getting ducats (appointments) to go get on Suboxone.
“Sylvia observed women who didn’t have to sign up for Suboxone, the MAT Program sends for them. Women continue to sell, buy, and abuse Suboxone, but now there are now lists of important jobs and activities they can’t do under the influence of Suboxone. Backpacks, water bottles, and events distract from why a CCWF resident pulled her eyes out. Newsom and De La Cruz should be concerned Narcan can’t do anything about that.
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