Difficult-to-detect synthetic drugs smuggled into Nevada’s prison system through ink on mailed correspondence has caused a substantial increase of overdoses among the inmate population, according to the state’s prisons chief.

At least 127 inmates have been hospitalized with suspected overdoses this year, compared with 59 for the entirety of 2024, Nevada Department of Corrections Director James Dzurenda said at an Oct. 16 Interim Finance Committee meeting.

“That’s all being driven by the synthetic drug problem we have,” Dzurenda said.

By comparison, only five inmates overdosed four years ago, he added.

Additionally, six out of seven prison homicides reported in 2025 were connected to the synthetic drug, Dzurenda told state lawmakers.

Dzurenda revealed the crisis as he asked the committ

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