The toll from Opioid overdoses now involves the lives of thousands of people across Ontario and numbers are rising.
Statistics and numbers related to overdoses do not capture the profound distress felt by those impacted.
Observers may hesitate to call 911 out of fear of police involvement, and that’s why there’s the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act (GSDOA).
The law provides protection against charges for Possessing drugs for your own use and/or violating conditions of your parole, bail, probation or conditional sentence for a simple drug possession charge in the process of reporting an overdose.
It won’t protect you from charges for drug trafficking, offences other than possession, outstanding warrants or violations of conditions or undertakings.
A new OPP public awareness campaign about the Good Samaritan Act is underway.
Police have created posters, information cards and community safety videos to help educate the public and community agencies. These resources as well as other additional information about the Good Samaritan Act can be found by visiting: www.opp.ca/overdose and OPP social media accounts.