INMATE ODS NO SURPRISE: UNION HEAD

The boss of the union which represents guards at the Edmonton Remand
Centre said it's no surprise two inmates almost died from drug
overdoses Friday night.

Dan MacLennan, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees,
said the guards are doing their best to stem the flow of drugs into
the centre, but it's an uphill battle.

"I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often," said MacLennan, himself
a former jail guard.

"You have a large number of gang members and dangerous people who come
in with drug problems."

The two centre inmates were rushed to the Royal Alexandra Hospital
just after 6 p.m. Friday.

Both were unconscious and having difficulty breathing. Yesterday they
were reported to be out of danger.

"They could have died," said a source at the centre.

"They didn't even know what they were taking, all they knew was it was
some pills."

The pair had gone back to their respective cells after supper.

The alarm was raised by their cellmates shortly before 6 p.m.

The source said many of the inmates were able to bring various pills
and marijuana into the prison.

"They put the stuff in a condom and swallow it, and sometimes they
swallow it again after it's passed through.

"There are also guys who get paper impregnated with acid."

On one occasion, someone trying to smuggle drugs into the centre put
them inside cigarettes before resealing the pack in cellophane to make
it look as though it had never been opened.

No one was available from the Alberta Solicitor General's department
to comment on Friday night's incident, or on the problem of drug
smuggling in the jail.

"People with drug problems on the street don't stop at the gate of the
remand centre," said MacLennan.