NEARLY 40 inmates at a prison collapsed within 24 hours after taking drugs – and one was rushed to hospital.

More than ten percent of the prison population fell ill due to a series of fentanyl mixed with spices.

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Bosses worried then placed in difficulty Deerbolt Prison in County Durham in two-day confinement following last month’s incident.

Fentanyl, a synthetic drug can be 50 times more powerful than heroin – and there were fears that an inmate might die of an overdose.

A source said: “A prisoner was found collapsed in his cell, which is when the alarm was raised.

“Surprisingly, it was morning – and they reached it just in time.

“He was rushed to the hospital, where they rescued him. But he was in such poor health that documents stating “died in custody” were prepared in case the worst happened. »

They added: “Word spread that many prisoners had taken a mixture of fentanyl and spices. Others began to collapse within hours – and there were a total of 38 cases.

“No one has ever experienced an epidemic of this magnitude. The prison was locked down and a fleet of ambulances arrived.

“Many inmates have been treated in prison with an antidote, and it is a sad sign of the times that they know they have to stockpile it. »

Deerbolt’s latest inspection report – where most overdues are less than 21 – found more than one in four had substance abuse problems.

The Prison Service said: “The new government has inherited a prison system in crisis and is determined to tackle the supply and demand of drugs in our prisons. »

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