Only One Drug To Be Used For Execution

Monday’s execution of Eric Robert will be South Dakota's second by lethal injection. The first was on July 11, 2007 when Elijah Page was executed using three different drugs.

On Monday morning, officials confirmed that just one drug will be used.

How many drugs are used is determined by when the inmate is convicted and the availability of the drugs.

The shortage of one of the drugs in the three drug lethal injection procedure has actually prompted more states to adopt the one drug protocol. The drug in short supply is sodium thiopental.

Instead, officials with the South Dakota Department of Corrections will give Robert a single lethal dose of the drug Pentobarbitol. The drug was first used as the only drug in a single lethal injection protocol in July of this year by the state of Texas.

Pentobarbitol is not a new drug. It's been around since 1928. It's approved by the FDA for the medical treatment of seizures and for pre-operation sedation.