JUDGE SAYS INMATES OFF THEIR MEDS

Should a heroin-addicted inmate have access to treatment medications while
in prison?

That became a topic of discussion at the County Prison Board's monthly
meeting Friday morning.

Judge Nancy Butts, a board member, said she received a number of letters
from inmates inquiring about medications, specifically Buprenorphine, which
is used to treat heroin addiction.

The letters also indicated that other inmates with hepatitis C, which is
associated with intravenous drug use, are getting medications, she said. In
some instances, Ambien -- a sleeping pill -- is available.

Butts made it clear to other board members, which include the county
commissioners, District Attorney Michael A. Dinges and Sheriff Charles T.
Brewer, that she was not trying to advocate a treatment program at the prison.

"I'm just bringing it to your attention," she said.

Warden David A. Desmond said there is a legitimate medical concern about
people "detoxing" in prison. Medications are often used to subdue symptoms.

Heroin withdrawal symptoms, include restlessness, muscle and bone pain,
insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting and cold flashes. They may begin within a few
hours of the last use.

The symptoms usually subside after a week, but may last up to a month,
according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Butts speculated that recent disciplinary problems at the prison could be
due, in part, to limited access to medicines.

Deputy Warden Kevin A. DeParlos, who handles disciplinary problems, said
the number of incidents has been higher in recent months. According to
prison records, 55 hearings involving 40 inmates were conducted in July.

Last year, more hearings were conducted in certain months, but involved
about half as many inmates.

"We are just going to have these kinds of people," Desmond said. "That's
why they are in jail."

The types of problems prison staff regularly handle include possessing
contraband, threatening staff, tampering with security equipment or
refusing to work.

In July, the highest number of incidents involved disobeying orders,
disrupting prison routine and possessing weapons, according to prison reports.

Responding to Butts' speculation, DeParlos said he didn't sense that lack
of medicines could be causing the disciplinary problems, except for inmates
on mental-health medications.

The board didn't take any action after the discussion but members decided
more discussions should take place.

In other business, Desmond announced that the commissioners authorized the
prison to join a pharmacy purchasing program through the County
Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.

The association worked with a Harrisburg company, Cost Management Plus, to
negotiate discounts with Diamond Pharmacy of Indiana, Pa., a large
distributor of institutional pharmaceuticals.

The program will cost the county $380 per month, but the savings are
expected to exceed that. The county's monthly drug costs range from $19,000
to $28,000, and the June pharmacy bill was $14,000, Desmond said.

The savings, however, will be better known after a year, Commissioner
Rebecca A. Burke said.