In 2020, 2,773 Marylanders lost their lives due to due unintentional intoxication overdoses involving drugs and alcohol. This is the largest annual total on record.
Source: 2020 Maryland Opioid Operational Command Center report
Maryland’s Good Samaritan Law
Maryland’s Good Samaritan Law protects people assisting in an emergency overdose situation from arrest, as well as prosecution, for certain crimes.
The purpose of the law is to encourage any person, regardless of age, who experiences or observes a medical emergency caused by the ingestion or use of alcohol or other drugs to seek medical assistance without fear of arrest or prosecution for:
- Possessing or using a controlled dangerous substance
- Possessing or using drug paraphernalia
- Providing alcohol to minors
Additional resources:
- Maryland Department of Health’s Good Samaritan Law page
- Watch a one-minute video about the law
- Want to share the Good Samaritan Law in your community? Contact usto schedule a presentation for your organization or request materials to share in your community
Learn to Use Naloxone
Maryland Coalition of Families’ substance use team periodically offers Overdose Response trainings that teach participants how to recognize signs of overdose and administer Naloxone when necessary. These trainings are available at no cost to participants and include a free Naloxone kit. To schedule a training for your group, call 410-730-8267 or email [email protected]
