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Good Samaritan Law Protecting 911 Callers Seeking Help For Overdose Victims Goes Into Effect

State Senator Jim Hughes
Liam Niemeyer
State Senator Jim Hughes

A new law meant to stop drug overdoses is going into effect Tuesday. It focuses on providing help for overdose victims.Listen to the story here.

Republican Senator Jim Hughes says sometimes when people are overdosing, bystanders don’t call 911 for fear of getting the victim in trouble for drug abuse. This new law would provide immunity for minor drug possession offenses. 

“This does not affect the drug trafficker. This is those people who are addicted, those that we are trying to help.”

The new law connects those victims with treatment. And it limits immunity to two 911 calls. Hughes says emergency responders in Columbus report an average of six overdose runs each shift. And recently, in Southwest Ohio, there were 174 overdoses in just one week. 

Copyright 2016 The Statehouse News Bureau

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.