"Good Samaritan" Policies Save Lives

The U.S. Conference of Mayors, which makes policy recommendations addressing the concerns of the nation's cities, just unanimously adopted a resolution in support of comprehensive overdose prevention policies such as 911 Good Samaritan laws. Good Samaritan laws encourage people who witness an overdose to call 911 by providing limited immunity from drug possession charges. This and other measures endorsed in the resolution could save thousands of lives.

The implications of their recommendation especially have meaning to families who have lost youngsters or loved ones from overdoses because the victim's companions tragically delayed seeking medical aid for fear of being prosecuted for using illegal drugs.

It is important that there be an understanding between hospitals and police that such calls will be kept confidential and that the police will not seek to discover the identitiestities of the "Good Samaritans" who called the hospital or 911 for help.