What treatment protocol was used in the Okanogan County jail?

The Okanogan County jail reportedly used an unproven 'opiate withdrawal protocol' consisting of Gatorade and other medications, rather than FDA-approved treatments for opioid use disorder.

Why are there calls for increased oversight of Washington jails?

Recent deaths in the Okanogan County jail, coupled with a high national rate of jail deaths in Washington and a lack of enforceable statewide oversight, are leading to demands for stricter standards and accountability.

Home / Crime and Justice / Jail Deaths Spark Calls for Oversight

Jail Deaths Spark Calls for Oversight

Q: What happened to Amber Marchand in the Okanogan County jail?

Amber Marchand died by suicide in the Okanogan County jail after experiencing untreated opioid withdrawal symptoms for five days, according to a lawsuit filed by her family.

7 Feb

•

Summary

Two Indigenous women died in Okanogan County jail within three months.
Jail used unproven 'opiate withdrawal protocol' instead of FDA-approved meds.
Lack of state oversight highlights risks in Washington jails.

Two Indigenous women, LaCrisha Cate and Amber Marchand, died in the Okanogan County jail within a three-month period in 2023, exposing critical failures in care. Marchand died by suicide after experiencing untreated opioid withdrawal symptoms for five days, according to a lawsuit. Cate was found unresponsive in a shower after hours of lying in vomit, with her death certificate listing polysubstance abuse and cardiac arrest as causes.

Records indicate that Okanogan County received state grants for providing FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder but instead implemented a de facto protocol using Gatorade and other non-specific medications. Medical experts state this method is not proven effective for withdrawal. These deaths are fueling demands for statewide standards and oversight of jails in Washington, a state with the fourth-highest rate of jail deaths nationally and one of twelve states lacking enforceable oversight.