Good Samaritan Law Takes Effect in New York

A new “911 Good Samaritan Law” took effect in New York State on September 18. The law encourages people to call 911 if they experience or see a drug or alcohol overdose, without fear of being charged with possessing small amounts of drugs.

MyFoxNY.com reports the law is designed to prevent deaths from drug and alcohol overdoses. New York is the fourth state to have such a law, according to the news station. The bill was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo in July.

The Good Samaritan 911 law seeks to address research that finds a majority of people who witness a drug overdose are hesitant to call 911 because they fear being arrested for drug possession. New York’s law does not protect people who have large amounts of drugs for sale or who are engaged in drug trafficking.