Until 2009, most states used a three-drug combination for lethal injections: an anesthetic usually sodium thiopental, until pentobarbital was introduced at the end of 2010 , pancuronium bromide a paralytic agent, also called Pavulon , and potassium chloride stops the heart and causes death. Due to drug shortages, states have adopted new lethal-injection methods, including: ONE DRUG: Eight states have used a single-drug method for executions--a lethal dose of an anesthetic Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington. Six other states have at one point or another announced plans to use a one-drug protocol, but have not carried out such an execution Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee. PENTOBARBITAL: Fourteen states have used pentobarbital in executions: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia. Five additional states plan to use pentobarbital: Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Colorado includes pentobarbital as a backup drug in its lethal-injection procedure. MIDAZOLAM: Seven states have used midazolam as the first drug in the three-drug protocol: Florida, Ohio, Oklahoma, Alabama, Virginia, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Oklahoma used midazolam in the botched execution fo in April 2014, and Lockett died after the procedure was halted. Alabama's use of midazolam in the execution of in December 2016, resulted in nearly fifteen minutes of Smith heaving and gasping for breath. Arkansas's use of use midazolam in four executions in April 2017 raised concerns and in the execution of , witnesses reported coughing, convulsing, lurching and jerking. In January 2017, Florida abandoned its use of midazolam as the first drug in its three-drug protocol and replaced it with etomidate. Two states have used midazolam in a two-drug protocol consisting of midazolam and hydromorphone: Dennis McGuire and Joseph Wood. Both of those executions, which were carried out in 2014, were prolonged and accompanied by the prisoners' gasping for breath. After its botched execution of McGuire, Ohio abandoned its use of midazolam in a two-drug protocol, but then in October 2016 decided to keep midazolam in a three-drug protocol. In December 2016, Arizona abandoned its use of midazolam in either a two-drug or a three-drug protocol. Some states have proposed multiple protocols. Missouri administered midazolam to inmates as a sedative before the official execution protocol began. FENTANYL: Nebraska first used fentanyl in the August 14, 2018 execution of Carey Dean Moore. Nevada has also announced that they will use fentanyl in combination with other drugs to carry out executions. South Dakota carried out 2 executions in October 2012, obtaining drugs from compounders. Missouri first used pentobarbital from a compounding pharmacy in the November 20, 2013 execution of Joseph Franklin. Texas first used pentobarbital from a compounding pharmacy in the execution of Michael Yowell on October 9, 2013. Georgiaused drugs from an unnamed compounding pharmacy for an execution on June 17, 2014. Oklahoma has used drugs from compounding pharmacies in executions, including in the botched execution of Lockett. Virginia first used compounded pentobarbital obtained through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in the execution of Alfredo Prieto on October 1, 2015. Ohio announced plans to obtain drugs from compounding pharmacies in October, 2013. In March 2014, Mississippi announced plans to use pentobarbital from a compounding pharmacy. Documents released in January 2014, show that Louisiana had contacted a compounding pharmacy regarding execution drugs, but it is unclear whether the drugs were obtained there. Pennsylvania may have obtained drugs from a compounder, but has not used them. Colorado sent out inquiries to compounding pharmacies for lethal injection drugs, but all executions are on hold. ALTERNATE METHODS: Six states have laws allowing for alternative execution methods if lethal-injection drugs are unavailable. Alabama effective July 2018 , Mississippi effective April 2017 , and Oklahoma effective November 2015 all have laws that allow for use of nitrogen hypoxia. Tennessee's law allows for the use of the electric chair. Utah's law allows the firing squad to be used if the state cannot obtain lethal-injection drugs 30 days before an execution. In federal executions, the method is lethal injection, which was the method used in all three of the federal executions in the modern era have been by lethal injection carried out in a federal facility in Indiana. Apparently, a three-drug combination was used, though prison officials did not reveal the exact ingredients. See Washington Post, Dec. Military has not carried out any executions since reinstatement. It plans to use lethal injection. § 1-215 28 and A. § 13-105 30 , who participates in or performs any ancillary function s in the execution, including the source of the execution chemicals, and any information contained in records that would identify those persons are, as required by statute, to remain confidential and are not subject to disclosure. Such information shall be classified as a confidential state secret. The identity of an individual performing the services of executioner shall remain confidential and shall not be considered as public record for the purposes of KRS 61. The identity of any persons other than the persons specified in Subsection F of this Section who participate or perform ancillary functions in an execution of the death sentence, either directly or indirectly, shall remain strictly confidential and the identities of those persons and information about those persons which could lead to the determination of the identities of those persons shall not be subject to public disclosure in any manner. Any information contained in records that could identify any person other than the persons specified in Subsection F of this Section shall remain confidential, shall not be subject to disclosure, and shall not be admissible as evidence nor discoverable in any proceeding before any court, tribunal, board, agency, or person. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any portion of a record that could identify a person as being a current or former member of an execution team shall be privileged and shall not be subject to discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion for disclosure to any person or entity, the remainder of such record shall not be privileged or closed unless protected from disclosure by law. The execution team also consists of anyone selected by the department director who provides direct support for the administration of lethal chemicals, including individuals who prescribe, compound, prepare, or otherwise supply the chemicals for use in the lethal injection procedure. No updated protocol; litigation ongoing. Facts pertaining to the selection and training of the executioner must remain confidential. The identity of all persons who participate in or administer the execution process and persons who supply the drugs, medical supplies or medical equipment for the execution shall be confidential and shall not be subject to discovery in any civil or criminal proceedings. The purchase of drugs, medical supplies or medical equipment necessary to carry out the execution shall not be subject to the provisions of the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act. The identity of the executioner s will remain confidential. Disclosure of the foregoing information may not be authorized or ordered. Disclosure of the identities made confidential by this section may not be authorized or ordered.
