TEXAS (USA): PRISON SYSTEM RUNNING OUT OF EXECUTION DRUG

July 31, 2013: The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said today that its remaining supply of pentobarbital expires in September and that no alternatives have yet been found. It wasn't immediately clear whether 2 executions scheduled for next month would be delayed. "We will be unable to use our current supply of pentobarbital after it expires," agency spokesman Jason Clark said. "We are exploring all options at this time." As of May 2012, Texas had 46 of the 2.5-gram vials of pentobarbital, presumably enough to execute as many as 23 prisoners since each execution requires a 5-gram dose. The execution Wednesday of Douglas Feldman was the 20th lethal injection since that disclosure. (Source: Associated Press, The Province, 31/07/2013)