EPSO, City Council discuss inmate mental health
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — On Monday, Feb. 24, Colorado Springs City Council heard from El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal and other detention officials on the topic of incarcerated members of the community who are homeless, suffering from addiction, or mentally ill.
According to Roybal, those in the incarcerated population who require mental health and substance use services are offered the option of medication and support, and Roybal said he stands behind the work his agency does to ensure those who are incarcerated are treated fairly.
'I am confident and proud to say, upon release, those who are incarcerated leave the El Paso County Jail healthier and with more resources than they had upon entering our facility,' said Sheriff Roybal during the presentation before City Council on Monday.
City Councilmembers were allowed to ask question of Roybal, and EPSO said council was informed about the the collaborative relationships EPSO maintains with community partners, and the multiple ways EPSO works to ensure those who are incarcerated receive optimal care while in custody and upon their release.
'My staff has done an outstanding job at building programs allowing for rapid diagnosis, treatment, and prevention for those suffering from mental health issues, homelessness, and drug addictions within our community,' said Rpybal. 'The average stay for an incarcerated individual in El Paso County is 32 days, which means we are charged with caring for our neighbors, family members, and local workforce as they will eventually return to our community. Our detention staff does a fantastic job caring for those in our custody. I am extremely grateful for their dedication and hard work.'
According to EPSO, on average in 2024:
60% of the incarcerated population reported having a mental health-related concern.
26% of the incarcerated population reported being homeless.
37% of the incarcerated population received psychotropic medication treatment.
In addition to the 37% receiving psychotropic medication treatment, 10% were recommended to receive psychotropic medication treatment but refused.
In 2024, EPSO said its Jail Based Behavior Providers also led 480 Substance Disorder Group Meetings with 3,037 participants:
3,047 incarcerated individuals had a comprehensive treatment plan prepared upon release.
808 incarcerated individuals received NARCAN upon release as a preventative measure.
EPSO said it currently partners with multiple mental health providers, including Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, El Paso County Public Health, Diversus Health, Common Spirit Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation, and more to provide inmates with support and care.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Grant applications roll out in response to Georgia opioid crisis
ATLANTA, Ga. (WSAV) — The Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust works to eradicate and prevent the opioid crisis. In 2022, Georgia secured $638 million from settlements with major pharmaceutical companies and an additional $13 million from McKinsey & Company to combat the opioid crisis. The funds go to support initiatives like expanding treatment options, increasing public awareness and providing life-saving naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan. Governor Brian Kemp said, 'Like every other state, the opioid crisis has hit Georgia communities and families hard and with lasting effect. These funds will help us fight the good fight against the disease of addiction, help us make our communities more secure and help us see that justice is done for the victims of these opioid manufacturers and distributors.' The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (GDBHDD) says opioid-related overdoses have killed more than 650,000 people over the last 25 years, with a 200 percent increase between 2010 and 2020. Kevin Tanner, State Commissioner for the GDBHDD, said of the settlement, '$479 million of that money will flow through the trust over the next 18 years and out of that, 60 percent will go statewide initiatives, and 40 percent for regional initiatives. We opened that first opportunity for grants last year.' Apply online for the funds through Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Elysium Therapeutics' Investor Webcast Highlights "Fentanyl Rebound" as Key Challenge in Reducing Opioid Overdose Hospitalizations and Deaths
Elysium's Synthetic Opioid Overdose Prevention and Reversal (SOOPR™) technology designed specifically to combat oral fentanyl overdose LYONS, Colo., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elysium Therapeutics, an emerging biopharmaceutical company developing treatments specifically designed to rescue and reverse overdoses caused by oral opioids, including synthetic opioids like fentanyl, recently hosted a webcast to educate investors and pharmaceutical leaders on the pressing need to develop overdose rescue therapies designed specifically for synthetic opioids, like fentanyl. Entitled, "Innovating Solutions to Combat Fentanyl Rebound" and led by Greg Sturmer, CEO, the presentation noted that short-acting opioid antagonists like Narcan® and Opvee® are frequently ineffective in the management of synthetic opioid overdoses1, with 20 to 45% of overdose victims initially rescued with naloxone experiencing a re-narcotization event. Sturmer commented: "When fentanyl is taken orally, individuals can face a danger zone, a period of respiratory depression that can last six to eight hours, which far outlasts the window provided by currently available rescue agents that only last, at most, 30 minutes. The result is nearly half of those initially given a dose of today's rescue medications experience a rebound or re-narcotization event, which can lead to a hypoxic brain injury, cardiovascular toxicity or death." To address this critical shortcoming, Elysium designed its Synthetic Opioid Overdose Prevention and Reversal (SOOPR™) technology to be both faster acting and with the potential to offer overdose protection out to approximately 24-hours. Additionally, Elysium designed SOOPR with an intramuscular route of administration, which grants more reliable dosing, in comparison to intranasal administration, which can lead to partial and uncertain dosing in high stress settings. Sturmer added: "SOOPR was designed specifically for synthetic opioids, which are now the number one killer of adults aged 18 to 45 in the U.S. The need for a rapid-acting, long-duration reversal agent, such as SOOPR, is extreme given its potential to reduce the likelihood of hypoxic brain injury, cardiovascular events, re-narcotization, and death. Recognizing this opportunity, Elysium is planning to rapidly advance the SOOPR clinical program along a timeline that could enable the technology to reach the market in the next two to three years." About SOOPR™ (Synthetic Opioid Overdose Prevention and Rescue) SOOPR (Synthetic Opioid Overdose Prevention and Reversal) is a rapid-onset, long-acting rescue agent specifically designed to address overdose from synthetic opioids, including oral fentanyl. SOOPR utilizes a proprietary long-acting naloxone reversal formulation with faster onset kinetics versus Narcan® delivered via long-acting injection (LAI) technology. The technology is designed to rapidly restore respiration and provide 18 – 24 hours of effective opioid blockade to minimize the risk of re-narcotization, while also providing protection from same-day re-use of opioids. SOOPR has been endorsed by first responders and OUD treatment professionals as the effective solution urgently needed to address the global opioid overdose epidemic. About Elysium Therapeutics Elysium is an emerging biopharmaceutical company developing treatments specifically designed to rescue and reverse overdoses caused by oral synthetic opioids, including fentanyl. Elysium is working to establish new standards of safety in the opioid industry by developing SMART™ (Safer Medicines Alleviate Risks and Trauma) products, first- and best-in-class medicines that address the limitations and dangers associated with opioids and overdose rescue agents to reduce suffering from opioid-use disorder, opioid overdose, and acute pain. Elysium's lead technology, SOOPR™ (Synthetic Opioid Overdose Prevention and Reversal), is a long-acting opioid antagonist specifically designed to address oral synthetic opioid, including fentanyl, overdose. Tens of thousands of unnecessary overdose deaths each year exemplifies the critical shortcomings of currently available rescue agents, including naloxone and nalmefene. In addition, Elysium is developing oral-overdose protected (O2P™) hydrocodone for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain. For more information, please visit ContactTiberend Strategic Advisors, IncInvestors Media David Irish Casey McDonald (231) 632-0002 (646) 577-8520 dirish@ cmcdonald@ ¹ Rachael Rzasa Lynn and JL Galinkin Ther Adv Drug Saf 2018, Vol. 9(1) 63–88. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Elysium Therapeutics Sign in to access your portfolio
Boston Globe
6 hours ago
- Boston Globe
May was a ‘particularly deadly' month for suspected opioid overdoses in N.H.
Medics from AMR responded to 43 suspected opioid overdoses in Nashua and Manchester in May. But Stawasz said because Narcan is now widely available for free, it's likely there are many overdoses that continue to occur without 9-1-1 intervention. Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up The increase in suspected opioid overdose deaths come after months of positive indicators, with overdoses trending down in recent months compared to last year in both cities. Advertisement But Stawasz said those improvements 'by no means signal that the opioid epidemic is 'under control' or close to elimination.' 'It is always possible that the trend of lower numbers could change quickly — as evidenced this month,' he said. New Hampshire isn't the only state to see the sudden increase in deaths in May. Stawasz said Connecticut also saw a surge in both fatal and non-fatal overdoses around the state, with 61 suspected fatal overdoses between May 16 and June 6. Advertisement A bulletin from the 'That CT surge seems to correlate to the surge in deaths we experienced here in Nashua & Manchester,' Stawasz said in an email. 'The bulletin suggests that polysubstance combinations and higher concentrations of fentanyl may be contributing factors to the current spike in overdose deaths.' While overdose deaths in Manchester are trending about 13 percent less than last year, in Nashua, they're up nearly 70 percent this year, according to AMR. There were 20 opioid deaths in 2024, and there's already been 14 so far this year in Nashua. Meanwhile, in Manchester, the percentage of overdoses that were fatal shot up to 26 percent in May, more than double the rolling 12-month average of 11 percent. Amanda Gokee can be reached at
