GOODYEAR, AZ — Four women were taken to the hospital Sunday morning after a group of inmates at Perryville Prison began experiencing seizures, according to Goodyear Fire.
Emergency crews from multiple agencies responded and treated several people at the scene.
Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry officials confirmed that their symptoms were the result of illicit drug use.
All four women have been medically cleared and returned to the prison.
Read the full statement from ADCRR Below:
"This morning, 11/16, at ASPC-Perryville’s San Carlos Unit, 4 incarcerated women were transported offsite by local EMS for medical evaluation and treatment after exhibiting “seizure-like” symptoms. Initial information indicates that their medical symptoms were the result of illicit drug use. The 4 women have since been medically cleared and have returned to ASPC-Perryville.
As a precaution and per standard policy, additional inmates in the Unit were evaluated and, when appropriate, given drug tests. One additional incarcerated woman tested positive for illicit substances, and received necessary treatment and care.
The San Carlos Unit will remain under an operational curtailment until the situation is fully investigated and it can safely be returned to normal operations.
Unfortunately, much like prisons across the country, ADCRR continues to experience the negative consequences of drug-soaked paper being trafficked into prison units from outside sources via the U.S. mail and visitation, putting the lives of staff and the incarcerated population at risk. The dangerous substances can lead to significant risks when exposure or ingestion occurs. To combat these threats within Arizona’s prisons, ADCRR has been working on a plan to modernize and digitize general inmate mail that will be rolled out in the coming weeks, in addition to other interdiction and enforcement strategies."
