Synthetic Drug Smuggling Causes Deaths in Cook County Jail, San Diego Juvenile Hall Rocked by Drug Crisis
Synthetic drug smuggling inside detention facilities is causing deaths and hospitalizations: Cook County Jail inmates have died from smoking drug-laced paper, and a San Diego juvenile hall faces a drug crisis involving a guard bringing drugs in a burrito, sparking a state investigation.
Inmates at Cook County Jail in Chicago have died after smoking paper laced with toxic synthetic drugs, while a San Diego juvenile detention center faces a crisis of drug smuggling and abuse that has drawn a state investigation. The two cases highlight the growing challenge of keeping dangerous drugs out of correctional facilities.
At the Cook County Jail, officials linked a string of inmate deaths to paper soaked in synthetic substances. The drug-laced paper is being smuggled in through letters, legal documents, and books, making it extremely difficult to detect. Inmates smoke the strips, leading to deadly consequences. Some of the drugs are so powerful that even overdose-reversal treatments may not work. Experts warn this method could spread beyond prisons into communities, schools, and the streets.
At the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Center in San Diego County, drugs were stuffed inside a burrito and brought in by a guard, who then dispersed them to youth inside. A facility social worker, Juliana Gonzales, said she witnessed the chaotic aftermath: "A couple of the youth were taken to the hospital after experiencing negative reactions to the drugs."
Gonzales described it as one of numerous drug-related incidents she observed during her time at the 290-bed facility, many of which resulted in youth needing hospital treatment. She also reported witnessing guards beating minors, resulting in broken eye sockets, broken arms, and teeth being knocked out.
After Gonzales reported the issues to supervisors, her clearance to the facility was revoked, effectively ending her employment. She has since filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the county and her contractor.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced in May 2025 that his office would investigate conditions at San Diego juvenile halls. "Every young person deserves the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe, dignified, and welcoming environment," Bonta said. Gonzales said she and several colleagues were interviewed by Bonta’s team; the investigation is ongoing.
The county spokesperson said the Probation Department has enhanced security at its facilities and created a special unit to investigate all allegations.
The shift less than five years ago of juvenile offender care from state to county control left each county operating its own maximum-security detention centers. Jessica Heldman, an associate professor of child rights at the University of San Diego, said while proximity to communities can aid rehabilitation, "when we have 58 different counties, that means we have 58 different juvenile justice systems. It is a significant challenge to ensure that they are going to be safe." She noted a long history of excessive force and abuse in such facilities and questioned whether they characteristically place children at risk of harm.