Pubdate: Thu, 07 Mar 2002 Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2002 The StarPhoenix Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400 Author: Lori Coolican ADDICTED INMATES TAKE DESPERATE ROUTE FOR FIX Woman Dies Of Apparent Overdose At P.A. Institution Drug-addicted women inside Prince Albert's Pine Grove Correctional Centre have been drinking each other's vomit in a desperate effort to get high off a dangerous prescription drug administered to some inmates, The StarPhoenix has learned. The shocking story emerged after a 37-year-old inmate, Sonia Faith Keepness, died of an apparent overdose last month. Keepness, who had just started serving a 19-month sentence for drug trafficking and possession of criminal proceeds, was found dead in her cell at about 6:50 p.m. on Feb. 19. A source inside the institution said Keepness consumed the vomit of another inmate -- an addict on the methadone program who had just been given her daily dose of the drug. "I know that's what happened," said the source, who asked not to be identified. "The whole building knows about it. That's how she died." Methadone is a powerful narcotic analgesic painkiller prescribed by doctors as a replacement for illicit morphine, heroin and other opiates, because it alleviates withdrawal symptoms. The drug is always mixed with a small amount of orange juice before it is dispensed to addicts. Because one dose can kill an adult who has not been weaned onto the medication by a doctor, many methadone patients -- including those who are in jail -- are required to drink it under a pharmacist's supervision. Inmates forcing other inmates to throw up their daily dose, and then drinking or selling the liquid, sounds unbelievable but happens frequently, the source said. A spokesperson for the provincial Justice Department, which oversees the facility, would not comment on the source's allegation, because the investigation into Keepness's death is ongoing. However, Jeff Bohach confirmed the jail has changed its procedures regarding methadone patients since Keepness's death. Rather than allowing inmates back into the population a few minutes after drinking their dose, medical staff "will monitor the patient for one hour after they receive their methadone," Bohach said. Police and provincial Corrections officials are still waiting for autopsy and toxicology results in connection with Keepness's death. As well, an inquest has been ordered, as is standard procedure after an inmate dies in a correctional institution. No date has been set for the hearing. Two inmates, 30-year-old Candace Dawn Ahenakew and 24-year-old Redenah Faith Thomas, have been accused of selling or giving drugs to Keepness the day she died. Ahenakew is accused of trafficking methadone, and Thomas is charged with trafficking marijuana and Librium, a common tranquilizer. Both appeared in Prince Albert provincial court earlier this week. Prince Albert police would not confirm or deny the vomit story, because the investigation is ongoing. Tim Krause, a spokesperson for Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) said staff inside the federally run Saskatchewan Penitentiary have heard of inmates in other facilities obtaining drugs by drinking vomit. No such incident has ever been reported inside the penitentiary, he said. Inmates on the methadone program in the penitentiary are kept away from other inmates for five to 10 minutes after taking their dose in front of medical staff. After hearing about the alleged incident at Pine Grove, CSC will take a second look at its practice, Krause said. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart