Good Samaritan Law, providing assistance to an drug overdose

If you witness an overdose, you don’t have to worry about criminal possession charges thanks to the good Samaritan law. Somerset County Sheriff Ronnie Howard says “In the past, people have been afraid to report an overdose out of fear of consequences.”

Under the good Samaritan law, callers reporting an overdose will not receive any criminal charges, including if they are on probation or have active arrest warrants.

Sheriff Howards hopes that individuals who witness an overdose report it immediately. If that were not to happen because of fear of one’s own consequences, the Sheriff emphasizes that he will prosecute the individual to the fullest extent of the law.

“We would work closely with the state’s attorney, and if they did not report I would do everything that I could to charge them because they should help the person,” Sheriff Howard said. “You need to help them.”