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Good Samaritan laws offer limited protection to someone who attempts to help a person in distress. Discover how these laws can reduce the number of drug-related deaths in your area.
The number one cause of accidental death in the United States is drug overdose. According to statistics, 72.9% of opioid-involved overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids. Although first responders and EMTs carry the drug naloxone that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, overdose witnesses are often too frightened to call for help for fear of being arrested. In an attempt to reduce avoidable drug-related deaths, all fifty states have passed good Samaritan laws that absolve criminal punishments for the drug user and the person who calls for help.
DRUG OVERDOSE DEATH
Drug overdoses are a significant public health issue. They are the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Drug overdoses are usually caused by taking too much of a drug, such as opioid painkillers, or by mixing several drugs. People can overdose on alcohol, illicit substances, prescription medication, and other substances.
The most notorious substances that can cause an overdose are the central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol. CNS depressants can lower blood pressure and body temperature and slow heart rate and breathing.
CONTRIBUTED by Stages of Recovery