MG prisons record at least 13 deaths after alleged “K” drug overdoses

The Minas Gerais State Department of Justice and Public Security (Sejusp) is investigating the deaths of 13 prison inmates in Ribeirão das Neves, in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, due to alleged overdoses caused by the use of so-called “K” drugs. None of the dead had apparent injuries.

The ministry confirmed the deaths of seven inmates at the Inspector José Martinho Drumond prison in the last ten days. The causes of the deaths are under administrative investigation by the prison unit and the Civil Police.

Another six deaths were also confirmed by the Minas Gerais Penitentiary Department (Depen-MG) at the Antônio Dutra Ladeira prison, in the same city, between December 2023 and March this year.

Sejusp highlighted, in a note, that searches are routinely carried out on visitors and cells, with the aim of preventing illicit materials from entering and remaining in the prison unit. The Civil Police stated that they are awaiting the finalization of the reports to support the investigation.

What are “K” drugs?

Professor of toxicology and coordinator of the Toxicological Information and Assistance Center at Unicamp José Luiz da Costa explains that “K” drugs “are chemical substances that act on the brain like THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana”. “But they are synthetic, they do not exist in a plant or in nature.”

According to the expert, these drugs were initially created within pharmaceutical industry laboratories. “The goal was to study the endocannabinoid system that exists in cells,” he said.

This system modulates physiological functions of the human body such as hunger, sleep and immunity. The “zombie effect” caused by the substance is precisely related to the endocannabinoid system.

“Synthetic cannabinoids act on this system, which, when it is intensely activated, causes the person to have slower movements, become drowsy, lose consciousness, and have hallucinations.”

* Under supervision