Advocating for Changes in State Good Samaritan Laws to Enhance Public Health and Safety Outcomes

April 22, 2025
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM

The Good Samaritan (GS) Law related to drug poisonings remains a nuanced concept hinging on individual states’ legislative objectives and text. The GS Law originates from the Bible parable about a “good Samaritan” who helps a traveler who has been beaten and abandoned. The historical context of the parable is important because of the distrust between the cultures of the injured traveler and the helper. This context remains relevant today, as helping someone experiencing an overdose may entail calling for assistance from someone the caller does not trust. Additionally, optimizing the impacts of GS Laws requires stakeholders with varying perspectives to work together.

Advocates in the substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, harm reduction, and recovery spaces have worked recently to update state GS Laws to reflect present-day trends relating to drug supply, the recognition of SUDs as health conditions, and criminal prosecution.

In this session, Erin Day, the CEO of a statewide substance misuse prevention organization; and Michael Barnes, a health and drug law attorney, will discuss the origin, purposes, and variances in state GS Laws, as well as recent legislation. Topics will include whom the law protects, what substances the law covers, and when and how the law’s protections take effect.

Mr. Barnes will discuss how participants can evaluate their own state’s GS Law. Ms. Day will discuss methods of advocacy and share her experience in working with law enforcement, emergency personnel, and community groups to utilize her state’s GS Law to enhance public health and safety outcomes.

View the Rx Summit 2025 agenda here.