Pubdate: Thu, 21 Dec 2000
Source: Alameda Times-Star (CA)
Copyright: 2000 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
Contact:  66 Jack London Sq. Oakland, CA 94607
Website: http://www.newschoice.com/newspapers/alameda/times/

DRUG WARNING ISSUED AFTER INMATES' DEATHS

SACRAMENTO -- The Department of Corrections warned inmates Wednesday to be 
cautious about using both legal and illegal drugs in the wake of three 
recent unexplained deaths at the Central California Women's Facility in 
Chowchilla.

Letters from the department's health director went to inmates there first, 
but will be sent to each of the state's approximately 160,000 inmates by 
week's end, said spokeswoman Margot Bach.

Deputy Director for Health Care Services Susann Steinberg warned inmates to 
avoid unprescribed medicines, combining medication, trading prescriptions 
with other inmates, or hoarding medication to take later.

"We're not saying this happened at Chowchilla, but it's a probability 
people at Chowchilla were doing it," Bach said.

In addition, Steinberg warned inmates against using illegal drugs.

"The illegal drugs (like heroin, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, 
etc.) that may be coming into the prison may be contaminated with toxic and 
poisonous materials. In the past, we have identified drugs contaminated 
with substances that range from potent insecticides to poisons, such as 
strychnine," Steinberg warned in her letter. "Inhaling, ingesting, or 
injecting these substances may lead to agonizing and rapid death."

Steinberg's office is also reviewing deaths throughout the prison system to 
see if there are similar instances elsewhere, Bach said.

However, Youth and Adult Correctional Agency Assistant Director Steve Green 
labeled "absolutely untrue" reports by prison advocacy groups of scattered 
unexplained deaths among male inmates.

Meanwhile, a medical team from the University of California, Davis, began 
its independent investigation of the three Chowchilla deaths Wednesday.

Pamela Coffey, 46, of Los Angeles, collapsed in her cell Dec. 2. Stephanie 
Hardie, 34, of Pomona, died Dec. 9, and Eva Vallario, 33, of San Diego, 
died Friday.

"The women were young, they didn't have any ongoing health problems (that 
were expected to lead to death) ... and they were so sudden -- they were 
here one minute and the next they're gone," Bach said.

Toxicology reports on the women inmates aren't expected for another week.

Vallario's sister, Misty Miller of San Diego, said Vallario suffered from 
asthma and had complained for at least a week of a sinus infection. She 
said Vallario was given an over-the-counter decongestant despite her 
request for stronger medicine.
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