Overdoses continue to occur at Alvin S. Glenn Prison

COLUMBIA, SC — Tonight we asked local leaders questions after two more overdoses were reported from the Richland County Jail this weekend.

Inmates at Alvin S. Glenn Prison somehow continue to get drugs behind bars. Two of them died of opioid overdoses in mid-July, making three non-fatal overdoses this month.

“Substances like fentanyl are almost everywhere and there are many substances that are adulterated,” said Michelle Nienhius.

Nienhius works for DAODAS, the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. She is the director of prevention and intervention services and says drugs are becoming more deadly.

“I was just at a conference last week where the Drug Enforcement Administration presented some recent data showing that the DEA seized 80 million pills in the United States in 2023, and 7 out of 10, or 70%, of the pills seized and tested by the DEA contained a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl,” Nienhius said.

She adds that this percentage has more than doubled in the last four years alone, with 28% in 2020 and 41% in 2021 containing a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.

And according to the Richland County Sheriff's Department, which investigates these deaths and overdoses, two more inmates were seen Monday night suspected of being under the influence of an unknown substance.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections said another prison inspection is planned before the end of the month.

Richland County, the warden of Alvin S. Glenn, did not agree to an interview Tuesday, but County Administrator Leonardo Brown sent a statement saying, “I want to ensure a safe environment for all inmates in our care. I encourage people not to use illegal drugs or non-prescription medications. Richland County administration is committed to finding out the sources contributing to drug use at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. We will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement to investigate these matters and hold everyone accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our commitment to improving conditions at Alvin S. Glenn is unwavering.”

Background: Last November, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into civil rights violations at the prison, citing incidents of deadly violence and structural problems at the facility.

Many of these structural issues have now been addressed as the county continues to renovate the facility, a process expected to be completed by the end of the year.