Those who help overdose victims get help now immune from drug prosecution

Staff report

WARREN

Ohio joined 34 other states last week in offering immunity from prosecution for a person who seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug overdose.

The law, signed by Gov. John Kasich on June 13, is called the Good Samaritan law because its intent is to reward people who contact authorities or take someone to the hospital because of an overdose.

The immunity protects a person acting in good faith from a minor drug-possession offense that is penalized as a misdemeanor or fifth-degree felony.

Granting immunity increases the likelihood that those in the presence of a drug overdose will call for help, thus saving more lives, said state Rep. Robert Sprague of Findlay, R-83rd, who introduced the law.

But Traci Timko Sabau, assistant Warren law director and Warren police legal adviser, said she’s not convinced the law is beneficial.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com