Lawmakers: Strengthen Good Samaritan Laws to Address Overdose Deaths

Police officers are trained first responders who are prepared to save a life from overdose. But in our states, it can be risky and intimidating to call them for help. We regularly hear stories of police arriving to stop an overdose and intent on finding a felony – they illegally rifle through drawers, subject bystanders to strict questioning and dig through people’s belongings. These interactions are more than just a scary result of an overdose: their continued existence are proof that people who use drugs cannot trust the police, firefighters and emergency responders who might be called upon to save their lives.