Harm Reduction: Washington State Good Samaritan Bill Would Protect Those Bringing Overdosed Friends to Medical Care
More than 700 people died of drug overdoses in Washington state in 2006, up from a little over 400 in 1999. In an effort to blunt that trend, state Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland) has introduced HB 1796, which would provide limited immunity from prosecution for drug possession for people seeking assistance for friends or relatives suffering from a drug overdose. At present, New Mexico is the only state to have passed such a "Good Samaritan" law.
[inline:rogergoodman.jpg align=right caption="Roger Goodman"]Many overdose deaths occur because friends of the victim delay or completely avoid seeking medical treatment for fear they will end up being arrested themselves. That fear is one of the most significant barriers to getting help for OD victims.
The bill would prevent Good Samaritans from being prosecuted for drug possession, but not drug manufacture or distribution offenses. The bill also provides the same immunities for drug overdose victims. A second section of the bill legalizes the use of the opioid antagonist naloxone to treat overdoses.
Before becoming an elected official, Goodman earned an impressive reputation in the drug law reform community and the legal community as head of the King County Bar Association Drug Policy Project. Now, he has moved from advocating change to legislating change.
The bill was introduced January 29 and passed the House Committee on Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness on February 18 in amended version. On Thursday, it was returned to the Rules Committee for a second reading.
Update: HB 1796, and its companion bill sponsored by Sen. Rosa Franklin, SB 5516, did not come up for a vote before Thursday's cutoff.
Comments
Really?
The sad thing is, that to most people, these kids' lives are not that important! At least, not until they want to say how bad it is, that so many kids are dieing, from overdose. Then, they want funds for LE to continue their same failed programs that, just, let these kids die!
They don't care. And, it doesn't look like anyone else cares! If they did, they would not keep pushing for more of these insane failed approaches. This law would be a good first step in trying to cut down the overdose death and loss of young lives in that state. And, we would need to enact the same thing all over our country.
Lets change things. Let's try thinking out of the box, for a real change! Lets show the youth of this country that we have not stopped caring. Maybe that would give them a reason, not to do drugs! I know if I thought no one cared, if I lived or died, I might give up on a normal life, too!
LET'S DO IT FOR THE KIDS!
Add new comment