Pubdate: Sun, 22 Jun 2003 Source: Wilmington Morning Star (NC) Copyright: 2003 Wilmington Morning Star Contact: http://www.wilmingtonstar.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500 Author: Ken Little, Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States) INMATES: DRUGS WERE OURS FOR ASKING Officials, Employee Mum On Allegation Inmates at the New Hanover County jail say prescription medications, illegal drugs and other contraband items were theirs for the asking from a county Health Department employee on staff there. Officials won't confirm or deny a possible connection between the allegations and a "personnel action" last week regarding a public health nurse employed at the jail. No criminal charges have been filed. Inmates say the nurse readily dispensed medications and cigarettes in return for favors from them upon release. A county official said the employee voluntarily resigned but would not confirm his identity. Sheriff Sid Causey would not confirm that an investigation spurred by the inmate allegations is under way. Inmates said they came to know the employee well as he made his rounds with a cart, dispensing medications legitimately prescribed by a doctor. "All you have to do is say, 'razzle-dazzle,' and he will fix you up. He gave me Valium two times," said Walter D. Jones, 46, who has been in the jail for about three months and awaits trial on a charge of possessing a stolen motor vehicle. The nurse handed out unauthorized drugs , said Billy Locklear, 51, who has been in jail nine months and awaits trial on a charge of possessing stolen property. Mr. Locklear and Mr. Jones both spoke in telephone interviews. Mr. Locklear said he suffered an allergic reaction and was taken to the New Hanover Medical Center emergency room the morning of June 14 after he took several tablets of Trazadone, generally prescribed for depression. Mr. Locklear said the pills were dispensed by the nurse June 12 after he complained of chest pain related to a heart condition. "I slept all day Friday, and when I woke up Saturday morning I was sweating real bad and I felt weak. They took me to the emergency room," Mr. Locklear said. "It caused my blood pressure to skyrocket." Mr. Locklear said he has been questioned by sheriff's office investigators about the incident. The employee, contacted Friday, declined comment. County officials offered sparse information and refused to characterize the nurse's employment status and job assignment, citing state rules covering public employees. "I can confirm a personnel action took place June 17 but I can't tell you what it is," county Human Resources Director Andre Mallette said. County Health Department Director David Rice said Friday the employee resigned in May, effective June 30, and "he is on staff until then," but would not elaborate. New Hanover County will privatize its health care service at the jail after July 1 and the county will no longer provide nurses or doctors for inmate care. "One individual did resign. We did have a voluntary resignation," Assistant County Attorney Holt Moore said last week. Mr. Moore added that the employee in question submitted a letter of resignation May 23. County Personal Health Services Manager Janet McCumbee, who supervises nurses, said last week she knew of the resignation but would not elaborate. In general, nurses working at the jail can dispense medications such as Tylenol based "on generic standing orders we have in place signed by doctors," Ms. McCumbee said. Prescription drugs in the jail are locked in the facility medical clinic and are tracked on a medication log. "There's always a system to document medications ordered and given," Ms. McCumbee said. "There are inventories over there where things are being tracked." A doctor makes rounds at the jail two or three mornings a week. Nurses are on duty the rest of the time and are sometimes named in complaints by inmates who want prescription medications and are denied, Ms. McCumbee said. "If a nurse was dispensing medication illegally, we would take action," she said. "Our procedures are appropriate." Sheriff Causey acknowledged the likely presence of illegal drugs in the jail but said he does not think the problem is prevalent. "We don't think it's all over the jail. We go to great lengths to keep contraband out of the jail and we're successful in doing that, but when you have that many people there, there's always the problem of someone smuggling it in," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl