As Alabama's prisons system struggles to deal with various forms of contraband from coming into its facilities, including drugs, local county jails are dealing with the same problem.
On Thursday, a Jefferson County inmate was found dead, potentially due to an opioid overdose.
According to reports, Locust Fork native Wesley Wayne Moore was found in a common area of the jail with another inmate.
Both were unresponsive. The other inmate was revived using naloxone, but Moore did not survive.
Naloxone, or Narcan, is commonly used to reverse the effects of opioids during an overdose. The medicine can be injected into a patient's muscle or sprayed into their nose.
Officials will perform an autopsy on Friday to determine the cause of death, which the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is also investigating.
Moore was booked on August 20 on charges of second-degree assault, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, receiving stolen property, and use of a false identity to avoid arrest.
If this turns out to be an overdose, it wouldn't be the first instance of drugs being smuggled into the Jefferson County Jail or another jail in the state.
On August 9, attorney Harrison Jones was accused of bringing heroin into the Jefferson County Jail after he was allowed to visit with his client. Investigators said they found Jones to be in possession of almost nine grams of heroin.
The Morgan County Jail saw multiple incidences of drugs being brought behind bars last month. One male inmate reportedly overdosed on a foreign substance while five female inmates had incidences related to drugs that same week.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email will.blakely@1819news.com or find him on Twitter and Facebook.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
