The Green Party is launching a Member’s Bill that would allow people to call for help for someone experiencing a drug overdose without fear of criminal prosecution.

“If someone is experiencing a drug overdose, they should receive healthcare, not handcuffs,” says the Green Party’s Drug Reform spokesperson, Kahurangi Carter.

“Whatever the situation, when an overdose occurs, the priority must be to save lives, not to punish those seeking emergency assistance.

“Yesterday, the Drug Foundation released its annual overdose statistics, showing on average, almost three people die per week from an accidental drug overdose. These deaths are preventable.

“We know that too often, people hesitate to call for help out of fear they or others may be criminally prosecuted.

“If passed, this would provide legal protection for anyone experiencing an overdose or adverse drug reaction, anyone who calls emergency services to get help, and anyone incidentally present at the scene.

“By passing this Bill, we can ensure that people are never afraid to pick up the phone when it matters most.

“Fatal overdoses are preventable. This Bill makes clear in law that when in doubt, you should always call for help. The Government can save lives by supporting this Bill,” says Kahurangi Carter.

Notes:

• The latest edition of the Drug Foundation’s Overdose Prevention Plan (which can be found here) calls for “Establishing ‘Good Samaritan’ laws. These are provisions that remove the possibility of charging a person for drug-related offences, when they were assisting someone experiencing an overdose or an adverse drug reaction. These changes in the law must be communicated to the communities of people who use drugs, so they understand they are not at risk when they call an ambulance or assist someone in an overdose”. Page 7, Point 5: ‘Policy Responses’.
• The United States and Canada have forms of this ‘Good Samaritan’ law . Some studies found after these laws were implemented, there was a 10-15 per cent reduction in opioid overdose deaths – this would translate to 19-28 lives being saved each year in Aotearoa.

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