Only some drugs allowed in jail

Health care operates a little differently in jail.

Coeur d'Alene resident Wanda Montgomery said her efforts to give her son his prescription medication while he has been in the Kootenai County jail this week have been unsuccessful.

David Reed, 29, spent his first five days in jail without suboxone, which he has been prescribed to take daily for a brain infection, his mother said, and she couldn't understand why.

"If you're prescribed something, you have to get it, whether you're incarcerated or not," Montgomery said.

Lt. Kim Edmondson said it's jail policy to ensure the only drugs getting into jail are those that are life-sustaining medication and absolutely needed.

"A lot of folks we have in the facility do demonstrate drug seeking behavior, and we have to be cautious about that," Edmondson said.

The jail's policy is that medication brought to the jail for inmates must still be in bubble packs from the pharmacy so staff can verify the medication, said Lt. Stuart Miller.

The medication Reed is requesting is a narcotic, Miller said, and narcotics don't tend to be life-sustaining medications.

In these cases, Edmondson said, the requested narcotic is reviewed by the jail doctor, who is at the jail once a week, to determine if the medication is necessary.

"We have a doctor and that doctor is now the inmate's doctor," Edmondson said. "He (Reed) is receiving proper medical care. We defer medical situations to proper medical authorities, and in this case, it's our doctor."

Kootenai County jail's medical policies are accepted under Idaho Jail Standards, Edmondson said.

"We have responsibility to provide inmates in our care and custody with medical care," she said.

Reed, also a Coeur d'Alene citizen, is charged with possession of stolen property, theft of stolen property upon receiving it, and use/possession of prescription medication, Miller said. His bond is $10,000. - Alecia Warren