Three more prisoners have been hospitalised in the latest of a spate of drug overdoses at a Scots prison.
The inmates at HMP Shotts became seriously ill last week after a batch of narcotics illegally entered the prison.
One con is believed to still be in hospital receiving treatment while two others have since been released.
It comes after nine inmates were rushed to hospital after ingesting a drug thought to be used to make “spice”.
Ambulances took six prisoners being held on the same landing to University Hospital Wishaw after they were discovered unresponsive two weekends ago.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) confirmed another three were taken to hospital last Monday.
Now prison officials fear fatal consequences are 'inevitable' if what will happen if prisoners keep taking the dangerous substances.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Prison Service told the Daily Record: "One prisoner is still in hospital and it is inevitable someone will die if they keep taking this stuff.
"It is unbelievable that people have seen others take these drugs in the prison with these consequences and continue to take them themselves."
Justice Secretary Keith Brown yesterday told the Scottish Parliament that a prison rule change will be brought in that will see inmates' mail photocopied before being handed to them in a bid to prevent drugs getting inside.
The SPS faces an ongoing battle to prevent substances getting into prisons as there are so many different types, and chemical formulae constantly evolves, which helps avoid detection tests.
