Mississippi State Hospital in Whitfield discovered multiple bags of illegal drugs and contraband last week, prompting law enforcement to deploy K-9 units and conduct vehicle inspections, according to authorities.
The hospital’s police and Mississippi Department of Corrections investigators are examining how the substances entered the facility. Photos obtained by Mississippi Today show pills, powdered substances, a large bag of marijuana, lighters, wrapping papers, and electronic devices.
Officials emphasized that the contraband was not found near patient areas and that no evidence suggests drugs were used or distributed to patients. Adam Moore, a spokesperson for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, said the origin of the drugs remains under investigation. He noted the contraband was found in a restricted area designated for inmate work programs.
Moore suggested the drugs might be linked to participants in a re-entry program that allows inmates to work at the hospital grounds. The package was discovered after staff found it in an area used solely for inmate work, near the nearby Central Mississippi Correctional Facility.
When found, the package contained two cellphones and suspected illegal substances, including what appeared to be marijuana weighing over 460 grams. Bags of unidentified pills, powdered substances, and SIM device components were also visible in the photos. Prisoners involved in the work program were removed from the hospital grounds, and the program has been suspended pending further investigation, Moore said.
Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Burl Cain announced that his agency is investigating and will release details once the probe concludes. Moore added that the hospital is committed to maintaining safety and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for contraband.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
