A bill that would shield people who seek help for a friend of family member who is experiencing a drug overdose and call 911 cleared the House Consumer and Public Affairs committee today. The bill now moves to the House Judiciary committee.

SB 200, the 911 Good Samaritan bill, addresses the overwhelming rates of drug-related overdoses in New Mexico by encouraging people to call 911 in the event of an overdose. The bill provides limited immunity from drug possession charges when a witness or victim of a drug-related overdose calls emergency services for help. The bill passed in the Senate by a 29-6 margin last month.

“This is a bill that is designed to save lives,” said Reena Szczepanski, director of the Drug Policy Alliance New Mexico. “The majority of drug-related overdoses are preventable. And since New Mexico has the highest rate of overdoses in the nation, anything we can do to help save lives is a step in the right direction.

For the latest on SB 200, the 911 Good Samaritan bill, please contact Reena Szczepanski at 699-0798 or Tommy McDonald at 983-3277.