Only 15 States Have Drug Amnesty Laws to Protect Overdosers, Friends

Gabrielle Smith/Family
Tanya Smith and her daughter Taylor, who died in August, 2013, after an overdose.
Georgia is the 15th U.S. state to pass a law ensuring those who call 911 in case of an overdose will not face criminal charges. These so-called Good Sam laws, the first of which was passed in New Mexico in 2001, aim to save lives by getting medical help, not criminal charges, for someone who has overdosed. The laws also protect the friend who calls 911 and stays with the person.
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