Drug overdose deaths have jumped by more than 2,400% in Texas prisons over the past seven years. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), 129 inmates died last year alone. That’s compared to just five deaths back in 2018.
As Texas Public Radio reports, the department’s executive director, Bobby Lumpkin, told a State Senate committee this week that the demand for drugs and other contraband in Texas prisons has become so widespread that it sparks fights and even homicides.
Lumpkin blamed the rising number of overdose deaths on an influx of more potent drugs, including fentanyl. “Concerning trends, but also give us clarity where we focus our energy and our attention. Limiting the flow of illegal narcotics and reducing opportunities to harm those inside our facilities.”
The TDCJ is asking lawmakers to pay for better technology to detect illegal items and save more lives. Agency officials called cell phones the “most dangerous” form of contraband as they enable the coordination of trafficking operations, contact with crime victims and arranging smuggling activities. More than 2,000 cell phones were recovered inside the agency last year.
Large Surge Seen in Texas Prison Inmate Drug Overdose Deaths in Recent Years
