Synthetic cannabinoids smuggled on drug-soaked paper are linked to fatal overdoses among inmates in U.S. jails, highlighting a growing health crisis within correctional facilities.
Synthetic cannabinoids smuggled into U.S. jails on drug-soaked paper have been implicated in a rising number of fatal overdoses among incarcerated individuals, according to a recent alert from The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education (CFSRE).
This alarming trend underscores a significant health risk within correctional facilities. Synthetic cannabinoids, designed to mimic the effects of THC—the primary psychoactive component of cannabis—are increasingly found in fatal overdose cases among inmates.
Reports indicate that these dangerous substances are being smuggled into prisons using everyday paper items, including letters, greeting cards, books, postcards, and magazines. The CFSRE has previously warned about “drug-soaked paper strips” that have led to overdoses in correctional settings.
In many instances, these papers are infused with a mixture of synthetic cannabinoids and other hazardous drugs. “While it’s impossible to know exactly why people are cooking up these combinations, I suspect they are simply ordering these substances from China or India and mixing them with very little understanding of how different substances interact or what constitutes a lethal dose,” said Alex Krotulski, director of toxicology and chemistry for the CFSRE.
A study conducted by the CFSRE in December 2024 revealed that the paper strips examined primarily contained “synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, nitazene opioids, and other novel psychoactive substances.” The agency noted that these drug-laced papers can lead to severe health outcomes, including central nervous system depression and bradycardia, which is a slowed heart rate.
Cook County Jail in Chicago, which accommodates nearly 5,000 detainees, has reported a rise in cases where smugglers soak paper with synthetic drugs and send them into the facility through mail or visitors. In 2023, the jail’s administration confirmed 18 deaths of prisoners in custody, with five attributed to overdoses, three of which involved synthetic cannabinoids, according to records from the Cook County Medical Examiner.
“I cannot stress how serious this is,” Dr. Priscilla Ware, who oversees Cook County Correctional Health and serves as medical director of Cermak Health Services, stated in November 2023. “People are dying from this product every single day when they use it.”
In response to the growing trend of drug-soaked paper, jail administrators implemented a ban on paper items in April 2023. Despite this measure, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart noted in 2024 that while overdose deaths had decreased that year, the issue of drug-soaked paper smuggling persisted.
“Unfortunately, it has been common to see test results for drug-soaked paper come back with two or three dangerous drugs, and we know that the people who produce this paper often include toxic chemicals, such as insecticides and rat poison, in their ‘recipes,’” Dart explained. “That was alarming enough. But to see these results come back with a half dozen or more dangerous synthetic drugs—any one of which could be fatal on its own—is terrifying.”
In July 2024, authorities in Cook County seized three pieces of paper suspected to be laced with drugs. Testing by the CFSRE revealed that these papers contained up to ten different dangerous synthetic drugs, including protonitazene, a synthetic opioid that can be up to three times more potent than fentanyl, and xylazine, a powerful animal sedative known as “tranq” or “zombie drug.”
Cook County officials noted in an August 2024 press release that drug-laced papers have been reported to sell for as much as $10,000 per page. The issue appears to extend beyond Chicago, with reports indicating that at least 16 states have prosecuted individuals for smuggling drug-laced papers into jails and prisons.
“Drug-soaked paper allows extremely powerful substances—synthetic cannabinoids, opioids, and other novel compounds—to be delivered invisibly, without smell or obvious residue, making detection difficult in many environments,” Dr. Adam Scioli, chief medical officer of Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania, told Fox News Digital.
Scioli emphasized that the problem of drug-impregnated paper is not confined to prisons. “It represents a broader and very troubling shift in how highly potent synthetic drugs are being distributed, concealed, and consumed across multiple settings,” he said. “The same delivery method can easily affect schools, mail rooms, shelters, treatment centers, and private homes—any place where paper moves freely and inspection is limited.”
The potential for unintentional handling or sharing of contaminated paper raises the risk not only of overdose but also of accidental exposure to staff, family members, or bystanders. To mitigate these risks, Scioli advocates for early detection and screening tools.
“Expanding access to evidence-based addiction treatment, including medications for opioid and alcohol use disorder, directly lowers demand for illicit and high-risk substances,” he added.
A coordinated response involving healthcare, public safety, mail systems, and community education is essential to address this growing crisis. “This cannot be solved by enforcement alone,” Scioli concluded.
Fox News Digital reached out to Cook County Jail for further comments on this pressing issue.
According to Fox News, the trend of drug-soaked paper presents a significant challenge for correctional facilities and public health.